Discover the Glamorous Life: Top 11 Fun Facts About Dorothy Dandridge You Never Knew

1. Breaking Barriers & Taking Names

If Dorothy Dandridge were a board game, she'd be called "Breaking Barriers and Taking Names": This trailblazing queen not only dazzled as an actress, singer, and dancer, but also became the first African-American woman to score a Best Actress Academy Award nomination in 1954 for her outstanding performance in Carmen Jones, cementing her legacy in Hollywood and inspiring generations of black actresses to come.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Swingin' into Stardom in 1936

Swingin' it like it's 1936 with a side of trailblazing: Dorothy Dandridge wowed the audience in "The Big Broadcast of 1936" as part of the Dandridge Sisters trio, setting the stage for her groundbreaking career that saw her become the first African American woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Source => tcm.com

Did you know Anna May Wong was more than just a Hollywood star? She founded her own production company in 1924 to showcase her Chinese heritage! Discover the story behind this boss lady's noble venture.🎬🌟

=> Fun Facts about Anna-May-Wong

3. Hollywood's Black Trailblazer

Before Beyoncé was queen and Halle Berry was stormin' the red carpet, a dazzling star named Dorothy was kickin' down doors like a Hollywood Carmen: Dorothy Dandridge, Hollywood's trailblazing African American actress, scored the first-ever Best Actress Academy Award nomination for a black woman with her iconic role in Carmen Jones (1954).
Source => splendette.com

4. Kardashians Who? Dandridge & Monroe Duet

Before there was a Kardashian with a T, there was a Dandridge and Monroe duet that'd make you sing in glee: Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe were students together at the Actors Lab in 1947, neighbors in West Hollywood in 1952, and even shared a vocal coach, Phil Moore, who also worked with other Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne.
Source => themarilynreport.com

5. First Black Woman Oscar Nominee

Before Beyoncé or Oprah strutted their way into the limelight, a trailblazing diva was breaking not just glass ceilings but also Oscar records like nobody's business: Dorothy Dandridge became the first Black woman to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress with her dazzling performance in "Carmen Jones," swinging wide the door of opportunities for future generations of Black actresses to shine.
Source => vanguardofhollywood.com

6. The Original "Sister, Sister" Singing Duo

Before the days of "Sister, Sister," there were the harmonizing "Wonder Children": Dorothy Dandridge and her sister Vivian turned heads and captured hearts, singing their way through hardships and Hollywood! The dynamic duo transitioned into the "Dandridge Sisters" and conquered the Cotton Club in New York as well as stages across Europe.
Source => blackpast.org

7. Vegas Trailblazer Denied Hotel Room

Who needs a room when you can stay in history's heart? Dorothy Dandridge broke more than a leg during her legendary 1953 gig at the Last Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas: With her mesmerizing performance, she became the first black performer to have a long-term residency at a major Vegas resort, even though she wasn't allowed to stay at the hotel or use its facilities. Dandridge's astounding talent and determination led her to achieve many groundbreaking milestones, including being the first African-American actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Source => snopes.com

8. Tennyson Lullaby and Belafonte Debut

Before Dorothy Dandridge took a Tennyson turn on the lullaby lane, she and her fellow actor were playing it by ear and stealing hearts: Dorothy not only showcased her acting chops in the 1953 film "Bright Road," but she also sang a lullaby using the words from an Alfred Tennyson poem, marking her multitasking talent, while her co-star Harry Belafonte made his feature film debut and serenaded audiences with his mesmerizing song, "Suzanne (Every Night When the Sun Goes Down)."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Eartha Kitt: Entertainer and Activist

You know what they say: "Eartha Kitt by day, Batman by night!" – but wait, there's more: Besides being a phenomenal entertainer, Eartha Kitt was also an activist who founded the Kittsville Youth Foundation in the 1960s, providing aid to underprivileged youths in Los Angeles, as well as joining forces with a group called "Rebels with a Cause" in Washington, D.C. Her efforts even led her to testify before the US Congress, advocating for urban improvements.
Source => alchetron.com

10. Hollywood's Fabulous Friendship

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's got the most fabulous friendship of them all? The answer may surprise you: Two Hollywood bombshells, Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe, had quite the mutual admiration society, starting at the Actors' Lab in 1947, living as neighbors in 1952, and supporting each other through career challenges like sexism and racial discrimination, all while wearing their iconic smiles.
Source => themarilynreport.com

11. Halle Berry as Dorothy's Twin

Before Halle Berry was the "cat's pajamas" in her feline role in Catwoman, she took a captivating leap into the 1950s by becoming Dorothy Dandridge's twin: Berry flawlessly portrayed the trailblazing African-American actress in the 1999 biographical drama TV film "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" on HBO, earning herself a Golden Globe and gracing the world with the insightful story of the first Black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Source => en.wikipedia.org