Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born November 9, 1922, to Ruby and Cyril Dandridge. Dorothy has an older sister named Vivian who was a year older than her. When money was scarce, Dorothy and Vivian, barely of kindergarden age, worked for money to provide for the family. They toured as The Wonder Kids and as they got older, The Dandridge Sisters formed also adding on Etta Jones. Dorothy's dad Cyril was no part of the family, and Ruby Dandridge had settled down with a woman named Geneva Williams. Geneva helped the girls rehearse for gatherings and also sexually abused Dorothy. This continued for a over a decade, then as Dorothy got older she was able to get away from Geneva, whom she and Vivian called: Auntie Ma-Ma.At the age of 15 Dorothy met the man she would first marry at The Cotton Club in New York City. His name was Harold Nicholas, half of the famous duo the Nicholas Brothers. Harold and Dottie dated until she turned 19, when they got married in 1942. A year later in September 6, 1943 Dottie one and only daughter Harolyn was born severly brain damaged. Dottie blamed herself for years and was ever more determined to find security and stardom. Since she couldn't take care of Lynn she was left in the care of Helen Calhoun. Who would take care of Lynn for over a decade. In the early and late 1940's Dottie went on to do 13 movies, some uncredited. It wouldn't be until 1954 that Dottie would get the role of Carmen Jones, the role she's most recognized for. That also lead to the affair with Otto Preminger; he bullied Dottie around, but he got the performance that would get her nominated for an Academy Award.On Wednesday March 22, 1955, Dottie would be the first Black woman to walk down the Red Carpet and read nominations. Dottie thought she would win, but Grace Kelly won for her peformance in The Country Girl. Dottie thought it was allright, there would be time. At this time, Dottie and Vivian got into a heated discussion and didn't speak to each other for the rest of their lives. The next movie role Dottie turned down because she would be playing nothing more than a slave and Otto told her not to. She said this was her biggest downfall in Hollywood.
