Dorothy Dandridge was a singer, nightclub entertainer, and actress who became the first African-American woman to receive an Academy award nomination as Best Actress (for her standout performance in 1954's
Carmen Jones; she lost to
Grace Kelly). However, despite her striking beauty and obvious talent, Dandridge was a sexy, glamorous black
femme fatale at a time when Hollywood pin-up queens were supposed to be giggly blondes. The film industry didn't know what to do with her, and while her nightclub act was a bit too smooth for the Southern roadhouse circuit, as a black performer she wasn't allowed to stay in many of the hotels and resorts where she performed. Dandridge also had a sad personal life, filled with tragedy and romantic disappointment, and she died of an overdose of pills in 1965, at the age of 41. This made-for-cable biographical drama stars
Halle Berry as
Dorothy Dandridge, supported by
Brent Spiner, Obba Babatunde, and
Klaus Maria Brandauer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide