Dorothy Dandridge

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This definitive biography of a pioneering Black performer, the first nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award, highlights her groundbreaking contributions to Hollywood and American society prior to the Civil Rights movement. In the segregated America of the 1950s, few celebrities matched Dorothy Dandridge's talent, beauty, and influence. Film historian Donald Bogle presents a comprehensive portrait of her extraordinary yet tragic life, from her beginnings as a child performer in Cleveland to her rise as a nightclub headliner and movie star, culminating in her heartbreaking death at 42. Dandridge broke racial barriers by integrating prestigious nightclubs and shattering Tinseltown's glass ceiling. Her performances, particularly in Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones alongside Harry Belafonte, earned her an Academy Award nomination, making her the first woman of color to receive such recognition. However, her wealth and fame masked a life filled with contradictions. Professionally, she struggled to find quality roles and grappled with her image as a sex symbol. Personal challenges included two unhappy marriages, unfulfilling relationships, and guilt over her disabled daughter, leading to emotional and financial despair. Drawing from extensive research and unique interviews, this biography captures Dandridge's complexity, showcasing her strength, vulnerability, joy, pain, trials, and triumphs.