Dorothy Dandridge Biography

Fast Facts

• The first African American to be nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards
• A statue of her forms part of the Four Ladies of Hollywood gazebo built to honor multi-ethnic leading ladies of cinema
• Was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Actress in 1956 for her leading role in "Carmen Jones․"
• Her mother created a song-and-dance routine for her and her sister, and they toured the Southern United States as The Wonder Children for five years, before being renamed the Dandridge Sisters in 1934
• Early in her career, she gained fame as a nightclub solo artist, best known for her renditions of "Blow Out the Candle," "You Do Something To Me" and "Talk Sweet Talk To Me․"
• Her performance as femme fatale title character in "Carmen Jones" earned her recognition and further work in the film industry
• When she signed a three-picture deal at 20th Century Fox, she negotiated a salary that matched Ava Gardner's
• Is the most prominent figure of a mural of celebrities painted on the exterior wall of Hollywood High School
• A song called "Dorothy Dandridge Eyes" is included on Janelle Monáe's album "The Electric Lady․"
• Was the first black woman to appear on the cover of "Life" magazine