“Have you ever caught sight of yourself by accident and you see yourself from the outside? That’s who you really are.” - Dorothy Dandridge

October 1954: the world was introduced to the world of Carmen Jones as played by talented newcomer Dorothy Dandridge for the first time. The musical film, based on the 1943 stage musical of the same name and set to the music of the 1875 world-renown opera Carmen by composer Georges Bizet, featured an all-Black cast against the complex backdrop of the WWII-era American South. Dandridge won the hearts and affections of viewers from the moment she appeared on screen styled in the iconic pairing of a tight cherry-red skirt and frilly black blouse while singing “Dat’s Love,” her powerful rendition of the opera’s “Habanera.” Starring opposite the household names of Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, and Diahann Carroll, Dandridge held her own as the film’s passionate femme fatale.

Her beginnings in entertainment were humble. She grew up dancing on the nightclub circuit with her sister, Vivian, leading to vocal performances at New York’s Cotton Club and, later, the Apollo Theater. In the early 1940s, Dandridge took her first steps into Hollywood by landing small on-screen parts in films such as 1941’s Lady From Louisiana and Sun Valley Serenade. For her starring role in Carmen Jones, Dorothy Dandridge became the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe just five years later for Porgy and Bess. 

Dandridge is remembered not only as one of the most celebrated actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age and a trailblazer for Black women in the film industry but also known for her exceptional beauty and iconic style. Her glowing complexion, bright smile, and perfectly coiffed hair were often discussed in the magazines she was featured on the cover of. Dandridge’s highly coveted face was always perfectly framed by strong, groomed eyebrows, a screen vixen worthy berry-toned pout, and a touch of romance with perfectly radiant cheeks. 

Beyond her ethereal looks, Dorothy Dandridge was certainly a woman worthy of all the love and acclaim she received. Dorothy Dandridge made it possible for women of color who were so heavily excluded from the silver screen (or, when featured, were reduced to roles of servitude in support of their white counterparts) to be desired, adored, and respected. Every character that Dandridge brought to life took on a life of their own, inspiring and uplifting movie lovers of all backgrounds for generations!

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