Even though this Oscar nominated actress and singer was A-list for a brief period, the impact she had on the film industry as a whole was groundbreaking.

Earlier on in her career, when she was a still a struggling B/C-lister, she got married to her childhood sweetheart who only saw it as an opportunity to cheat on her and/or physically abuse her at any possible time.

When she became pregnant with their child, he ordered her to get an abortion or else.

She refused and he left for quite a while, mostly spending money on booze and hookers.

When she started to go into labor, her family members were very slow to call the ambulance and she nearly gave birth on the front lawn.

Unfortunately, the child wound up to be mentally disabled and soon after she divorced her husband, she was forced to sign her child over to a group home.

Fortunately, she soon found solace in the man who would give her the break she needed.

Actress: Dorothy Dandridge

Impact: first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress

Break: “Carmen Jones”

Found solace in: Otto Preminger


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