Dorothy Dandridge

Born into poverty during the Great Depression, Dorothy Dandridge may have seemed like an unlikely candidate to inspire future generations of black entertainers like Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Janet Jackson. Her parents gave her an early start in showbiz—acting in a troupe that toured the South, which eventually led to steady film work. Dandridge’s career peaked in 1954, when she won an Academy Award for her role Carmen Jones—the first black actress to do so. Until then, Dandridge had been known for portraying more conservative characters, and the role allowed Dandrdige to show a more sensual, and seldom-seen side of her personality. Regrettably, the moment was short-lived: Dandridge died of an accidental overdose in 1965, but her legacy lived on in HBO’s 1999 biopic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge—starring, fittingly, Halle Berry as Dandridge.