Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American film and stage actress, dancer and singer, most distinguished as the first African-American actress to earn an ‘Oscars’ nomination for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the title role of the all-black film ‘Carmen Jones’ (1954). It was not at all easy for her as a black woman living in a prejudiced society to get lead or substantial roles that were easily available for the white-skinned divas and many of her initial films went without any credit. However her stunning beauty and charm along with acting and singing prowess helped her become the first African-American actress to bag leading roles in Hollywood in a career that did not have a long span but was marked with noteworthy films. Some of her notable films were ‘Island in the Sun’, ‘The Murder Men’ and ‘Porgy and Bess’. But this glamorous and remarkably talented performer faced an extremely perturbed life that was marked with a depressing childhood, fighting with the odds of racism, coming to terms with a number of unsuccessful relations, several setbacks in professional life, financial woes and the continuous battle against alcohol and drug abuse. The 1999 biopic, ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge’ was based on her. This yesteryear diva left the world under mysterious circumstances.