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Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years.
Feb 13, 2020 · Learn about the mysterious and forgotten career of Nellie Wan, who adopted the name Madame Sul-Te-Wan and became the first black actress to sign with a Hollywood studio. Discover how she broke into the film industry, what roles she played, and how she was celebrated in the black press.
Madame Sul-Te-Wan was born on 7 March 1873 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She was an actress, known for Maid of Salem (1937), In Old Chicago (1938) and Safari (1940). She was married to Robert Reed Conley. She died on 1 February 1959 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Feb 7, 2023 · Madame Sul-Te-Wan, as she was known by then, became the first black woman signed as a contract player in Hollywood’s history. In 1931, in her role as “Voodoo Sue” in Heaven on Earth she was first listed among the cast as Madame Sul-Te-Wan. Nobody today can claim to know when and why she used this name.
Nov 16, 2011 · The mysteriously named Madame Sul-Te-Wan was the first Black actress to land a Hollywood studio contract. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (Nellie Conley) – (1873-1959), was one of the most prominent Black actresses during the silent film era. “Nellie Wan, a Black vaudeville actress from Louisville who adopted the moniker when she transitioned to film in ...
Jun 9, 2020 · Madame Sul-Te-Wan was a pioneering stage and film actress who became one of the most prominent black performers in Hollywood during the silent film era.
Learn about the life and career of Madame Sul-Te-Wan, a Black actress who appeared in over 70 films and stage plays. She was born in 1873 in Louisville, KY and played in controversial and acclaimed movies such as "Birth of a Nation" and "Porgy and Bess".
