Irene Cara Biography

Fast Facts

• Won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the sixth annual Prestige Awards
• Began studying music, acting and dance after learning how to play the piano by ear and began making professional television appearances when she was a child
• Her talents as a singer and actress hit the national spotlight when she starred in "Fame," singing two Oscar-nominated songs for the movie
• In addition to work in film, on television and on the stage, her recording career was a success, as she released several hit singles and albums
• In 1981, she was the first artist to perform two pieces nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards
• Wrote the lyrics to "Flashdance… What A Feeling" on the cab ride to the studio where she was to record the song