I was watching Carmen Brown last night and I feel like you guys miss out on so much, I just had to make this. We love our current pop culture and our music icons and we forget to appreciate women who made it possible for Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Halle Berry, Rihanna and etc... to be mainstream and be as famous as they are. Dorothy was and still is considered to be one of the most beautiful women ever to grace a Hollywood scream.
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She was the very first African American actress to be nominated for Best Actress In A Leading Role at the 1954 Academy Awards. Of course she didn't win seeing as how there probably would have been a riot in the building, Grace Kelly won instead. But still it opened many doors for the other 7 black actresses who were nominated over the course of 50 years. Sad the number is that now but its just the way the game is played.
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I find it interesting that in 'no biography' of Marilyn Monroe does it mention that she was very good friends with black actress Dorothy Dandridge.
After Dandridge would finish performing with the Desi Arnez band in Hollywood, she would call Monroe, they would talk for hours about their career, problems with men and racism in Hollywood. Dandridge, Monroe and another black friendly actress, Ava Gardener often went to parties together.
Monroe and Dandridge also got a kick out of-both their first names and last names started with the same initial.
Monroe never tried to hide her friendship with Dandridge. It was so unpopular for whites to have black friends during segregation that white media outlets refused to report on their friendship, even if they were peers in the same field. This may be why biographers aren't familiar with their association.
Dandridge was also a good friend's of actor James Dean, she considered Dean a 'play brother.' Monroe and Dean tried to shield Dandridge from racism.
Actor Marlon Brando was extremely attracted to Dorothy Dandridge and shocked an audience when he kissed Dandridge on the mouth during an awards ceremony. Interracial mixing in Hollywood; was unheard of in the 1950's and was looked down upon.
Marilyn Monroe was very 'black friendly' and it's rumored that she tried to talk President John F. Kennedy into during more for civil rights before her death.
Ironically, Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge would die in a similiar fashion. Both died of accidental pill overdoses.
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Actor and Hollywood Icon Marlon Brando admitted to be extremely attracted to Dorothy even though it was frowned upon in the 50's. Media outlets were outraged when he kissed her in front of Hollywood's elite adding to his many controversial actions throughout his career. Which included not showing up to the Oscars and sending an Indian woman to accept it for him after reading a long speech about racism.
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In some way Dorothy finally got the recognition she deserved when Halle Berry played her life story, the role garnered critical acclaim winning Halle numerous awards. Halle went on to become the first African American actress to win The Best Actress Academy Award. the tagline of the movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" is one not easily forgotten "Right woman. Right place. Wrong time."
Dorothy Dandridge is/was the most beautiful woman to ever grace any movie screen. She actually could act and brought a sense of elegance and dignity to each of her film roles. I still love watching her auto-biography with Halle Berry as Ms. Dandridge. I wish she wouldn't have died from a overdose it seemed as though she was on track for a marvelous comeback.
Dorothy Dandridge is/was the most beautiful woman to ever grace any movie screen. She actually could act and brought a sense of elegance and dignity to each of her film roles. I still love watching her auto-biography with Halle Berry as Ms. Dandridge. I wish she wouldn't have died from a overdose it seemed as though she was on track for a marvelous comeback.
Age had gotten to her and newer girls were coming along. After she opened the door Lena Horne got her turn and it went up and up with Diana, and Beyonce, and etc... Understandably she was tired... she couldnt find roles because of her skin color and it took a tole on her spirit. She was supposed to play Cleopatra instead the role was given to Elizabeth Taylor because she was white.
Its such a shame her and Marilyn died the same exact way, especially since they were best friends and they looked similar in some ways.
I like to read up on old Hollywood history. Did you take a class about it or just read up on your free time?
I've heard about Dorothy Dandridge before but I never knew some of these things. Like her being friends with Marilyn Monroe or that Marlon Brando had a crush on her (though he did have a thing for women of color)
I like to read up on old Hollywood history. Did you take a class about it or just read up on your free time?
I've heard about Dorothy Dandridge before but I never knew some of these things. Like her being friends with Marilyn Monroe or that Marlon Brando had a crush on her (though he did have a thing for women of color)
Its a habit of mine, im almost obsessed with the beauty and glamor that was not only wanted but expected from these women... Bridgette Bardot, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner (who favors Beyonce), Veronica Lake, Katherine Hepburn, Gene Tierney, and of course Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Its fun to learn about their life, and they all were stunning beauties. Especially Gene Tierney.
^ These girls looks more flawless + glamorous than today's Hollywood
Of course they do, they were real Hollywood Glamor. Jessica Simpson would have fit in really well. I think Beyonce would have suffered the dame fate as Dorothy in the 50's. Unless of course she became famous for her singing instead of being an actress. But back in the 50's and 60's if you did one, you did the other.
Christina jacks a lot of Veronica Lakes swag.
Megan Fox can only dream to be half as beautiful as Gene Tierney.
Bridget heavily inspired Beyonces B'Day era as far as the look.
I am very familiar with the life story of Dorothy Dandridge and it's such a sad one. She paved the way for a lot of black female actresses such as the Halle Berrys of the world. I can almost envision criticism she may have received from her own race regarding her success at her highest moments being attributed to her skin color. People would have probably said/did say she was only successful because of how fair her skin (light-skinned) is and that she was dating white men instead of a black man. It's always been a problem within our race for always trying to hold one another down instead of celebrating our success.
The drug overdose just shows you how fame isn't always what it's cracked out to be and can lead to such a tragic ending. I was horrified and concerned for my favorite artist, Britney Spears would go down a similar road after such struggles with personal and professional life from late '06 to early '08. Depression is such a strong and serious problem in our world today. So much pressure to be perfect and maintain the lavish lifestyle you grew accustom to after making it big.
I admire her strength to get through the failed marriages and problems her daughter had through those years. She was truly a beauty in her own right and those shots in the videos just doesn't do her justice. Such a sad way to go by taking your own life, but this is a prime example of how fame kills.
But the only reason Dorothy turned to drugs was because she couldn't find roles. And I would bet money her and Marilyn had done them together before, because they died the same way and they were best friends. After Carmen and her Academy Award nomination people treated her differently. The whites wouldn't hire her and then im sure some blacks turned on her as well. She went back to acting in plays which is so sad. This woman had the potential to be as famous as Katherine Hepburn on film. They never gave her the true chance she deserved.
I didn't know much about Dorothy Dandridge before this to be honest, but her life was tragically inspiring. She definitely paved the way for African American women to be seen as major forces in the entertainment industry. While the latter parts of her life were full of turmoil, her legacy will live on because she was the exact embodiment of a star, beautiful, kind, and she had raw, unquestionable talent!
I wrote and performed a monologue acting as Dorothy Dandridge for my theatre class last year. It was about Dorothy Dandridge describing her life and her career to her daughter Harolyn, while on her deathbed.
Dorothy Dandridge was a great actresses and she paved the way for many black actresses. She died too soon. I think she would've had a lot success in the 70's with the wave of black television shows and movies during that time period. It's sad that she doesn't get the respect that she deserves. It seems like she's forgotten.
Black actresses in Hollywood haven't come very far. Only a handful of black women have won Oscars. In recent "non urban" movies, there's only one or two black actresses. With a few exceptions (Hallee Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Monique) black actresses are overlooked and they don't get the recognition, respect, nor money that they deserve.
I wrote and performed a monologue acting as Dorothy Dandridge for my theatre class last year. It was about Dorothy Dandridge describing her life and her career to her daughter Harolyn, while on her deathbed.
Dorothy Dandridge was a great actresses and she paved the way for many black actresses. She died too soon. I think she would've had a lot success in the 70's with the wave of black television shows and movies during that time period. It's sad that she doesn't get the respect that she deserves. It seems like she's forgotten.
Black actresses in Hollywood haven't come very far. Only a handful of black women have won Oscars. In recent "non urban" movies, there's only one or two black actresses. With a few exceptions (Hallee Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Monique) black actresses are overlooked and they don't get the recognition, respect, nor money that they deserve.
It makes me so mad too.... She would have definently been HUGE if she was born in 50's and became famous in the 60's and 70's im talking Diana Ross famous... But I for one will never forget her, she is the ultimate African American female icon.
I wrote and performed a monologue acting as Dorothy Dandridge for my theatre class last year. It was about Dorothy Dandridge describing her life and her career to her daughter Harolyn, while on her deathbed.
Dorothy Dandridge was a great actresses and she paved the way for many black actresses. She died too soon. I think she would've had a lot success in the 70's with the wave of black television shows and movies during that time period. It's sad that she doesn't get the respect that she deserves. It seems like she's forgotten.
Black actresses in Hollywood haven't come very far. Only a handful of black women have won Oscars. In recent "non urban" movies, there's only one or two black actresses. With a few exceptions (Hallee Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Monique) black actresses are overlooked and they don't get the recognition, respect, nor money that they deserve.
Exactly. I can't stand it. Angela Bassett, Alfre Woodard, Whoopi, and Oprah were so deserving of Oscars. It's crazy.
