Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was a woman of versatile talents who wowed audiences with her skills as a dancer and singer; while on the other hand she made her mark in Bollywood as an actress of rare quality. Apart from being a famous entertainer she also went on to become one of the most important civil rights activists in the United States of America during her lifetime and did a lot in order to elevate the situation of African Americans. Although it is true that Horne’s personal views, political inclinations and activism put her at odds with the established big hitters of the entertainment industry of her time; she did not let it bog her down and continued to be continued to work for upliftment of the people of colour across America. She worked in various shows on television, films and also in plays at some of the leading theatres of the time throughout a career that stretched over a period of seven decades in total. She became the first African American to be a part of the roster of a major studio in Hollywood and that opened the gates for plenty of new talents from the community. Read on to know more about her life and works.