'' Carmen Jones '' became a worldwide success , eventually earning over $ 10 million at the box office and becoming one of the year 's highest-earning films . Dandridge was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress , becoming the first African-American nominated for a leading role . At the 27th Academy Awards held on March 30 , 1955 , Dandridge shared her Oscar nomination with such luminaries as Grace Kelly , Audrey Hepburn , Judy Garland , and Jane Wyman . Although Kelly won the award for her performance in '' The Country Girl '' , Dandridge became an overnight sensation . At the 1955 Oscar ceremony , Dandridge presented the Academy Award for Film Editing to '' On the Waterfront '' editor Gene Milford
27th Academy Awards
27th Academy Awards
Dorothy Dandridge