American-born dancer, singer, and actress Josephine Baker spent most of her career performing in France. She is one of the key cultural icons of not just 1920s Paris, but the 1920s as a whole. And as an African American woman, her cultural significance is quadrupled given she rose to so much fame in an era where many people of color had their careers limited by racism.
Baker grew up poor in St. Louis, and from age 13, she worked as a street dancer. She found a role in vaudeville, and in that same year (still 13!) she moved to New York City where she began performing. In 1925, she moved to Paris, where she made headlines for her “Danse Sauvage” performed wearing only a feather. She became a HUGE star there, and while she did return to the United States to perform, she settled in France, where she married a Frenchman and thus gained citizenship.
During World War II, Baker worked with the French Resistance. She was also a strong supporter of the American civil rights movement. She died in 1975, and in 2021, was reinterred in Paris’s Panthéon, which is one of France’s highest honors and reserved only for those who have had an exceptional impact on France.
Baker has depicted been on screen a number of times, although surprisingly fewer than I initially expected! Let’s run her down:
Diana Ross in An Evening with Diana Ross (1977)
Ross recorded a live album, after which she recorded a TV special version. She performed several of Josephine Baker’s songs dressed as the original.
Lynn Whitfield in The Josephine Baker Story (1991)
A well-received TV movie biopic about the star that won several Emmys.
Karine Plantadit in Frida (2002)
There’s a long-standing rumor that Baker and artist Frida Kahlo had an affair, which is depicted on screen in this biopic of Kahlo.
Sonia Rolland in Midnight in Paris (2011)
Baker turns up as in the background of one of the clubs visited by a time traveler from our modern era who repeatedly visits the 1920s while staying in Paris.
Ligia Manuela Lewis in Das Adlon. Eine Familiensaga (2013)
Per IMDB, “Follows the construction and history of the famous Adlon hotel in Berlin, as seen through the eyes of Sonja Schadt, the youngest member of the wealthy fictional Schadt family who are friends with the Adlons.” I guess Baker shows up to perform at the hotel!
Tiffany Daniels in Timeless: “The Lost Generation” (2017)
Another time traveling story, in which various modern characters try to “save” history. In this episode they are in 1927 Paris, so of course they have to see Baker perform!
Astrid Jones in El ministerio del tiempo: “La memoria del tiempo” (2020)
Maybe Baker attracts time travelers? Because this Spanish TV show, about modern-ish people trying to “save” history, sees her appear in one episode!
Carra Patterson in Lovecraft Country (2020)
A horror TV show set in the 1950s. I haven’t seen the series, so all I can tell you is that one of the main characters performs with Baker!
Who’s your favorite Josephine Baker on screen?
