Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of “Lady Sings the Blues”

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Cicely Tyson

And speaking of other actresses up for the role of Holiday while winning their own Academy-Award nominations, Tyson was up for the lead, but although she didn’t land the part she does share history with Ross. They both were nominated for Best Actress at the 1973 Oscars. For the first time in history, two black performers were nominated in the same category, a lead category, and the category for Best Actress. Tyson was nominated for her brilliant role as a Sharecropping mother whose husband (Paul Winfield) is imprisoned for stealing food in Sounder. Winfield was nominated for his role as Best Actor.

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