18 to watch in '98

Ebony, Jan, 1998 by Laura B. Randolph

Hollywood insiders say this is the year Debbi Morgan will take center stage. The Emmy-winning actress made her feature film debut in Eve's Bayou, and her unforgettable portrayal of Mozelle, a woman with a gift for seeing into the future, has everybody talking about an Oscar nomination for the veteran actress. Morgan, who found fame as Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children, recently wed fashion photographer Donn Thompson, whom she met at a magazine photo shoot. Fans can also see Morgan on Port Charles, where she plays the role of Dr. Ellen Burgess.

Laurnea, the 28-year-old signer, has the music industry abuzz with the jazzy soul sounds of her debut album Betta Listen. She's so hot, in fact, that Babyface showed up for her debut-album party at Atlanta's Yin Yang Cafe, then pronounced her "a pure and rare talent." Laurnea (pronounced Lor-NAY) comes by in naturally. Her mother, the late Velma Brock, sand with the legendary Sam Cooke, and four her sisters were also vocalists. Laurnea was barely out of high school when she took over the Stephanie Mills role of Dorothy in the Broadway hit, The Wiz. A decade and a shalf later, she's being hailed as "the first female to be considered in the D'Angelo and Maxwell vein."

Since Euzham Palcy directed Sugar Cane Alley (1984) and A Dry White Season (1989), people have been clamoring to see more films form this talented director. If the buzz in Hollywood is right, this will be the year they get their wish. World is that Palcy has written a screenplay, Wings Against the Wind, about Besie Coleman, the country's first also direct. What's more, this month Disney will air The Ruby Bridges Story, a TV film about a little girl's school system, which Palcy wrote and will also direct.

Four months ago, Robin Sanders joined President Clinton's National Security Council, where she serves as a director for Africa. Washington insiders say the position is high-profile, high-pressure, high-power, especially since President Clinton announced a new partnership between the U.S. and Africa to promote economic growth and opportunity in Africa. Before joining the NSC, the Hampton University graduate worked as a political affairs officer for the State Department and as an election observer for Namibia's first-ever, post-apartheid election.

Three months ago, George Jackson--the producer of New Jack City, House Party II and III, and Jason's Lyric--was appointed president and CEO of Motown Records. With a roster today that includes artists such as Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill and Queen Latifah, everyone is hoping this Harvard graduate will have the golden touch that returns the company to its glory days. "I look forward to the challenge of re-establishing Motown as an aggressive player in today's competitive creative environment," says Jackson.

Regina King won raves for her role as Cuba Gooding's wife in the hit film Jerry Maguire, and this year her career kicks into high gear. This summer, you can see the former 227 star in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (she plays Stella's sister, Vanessa) and in the Disney remake of Mighty Joe Young (in which she stars as Dr. Cecily Banks, a wildlife veterinarian). Currently, the new mom is shooting Enemy of the State with Will Smith and Gene Hackman. King plays Carla Dean, Smith's wife.