Etta Moten
Biography
Etta Moten Barnett was an American actress and contralto whose signature role was Bess in Porgy and Bess. Born in Weimar, Texas, she earned a degree in voice and drama from the University of Kansas in 1931. In New York, she sang with the Eva Jessye Choir and performed in the revue Fast and Furious. Her 1933 films Flying Down to Rio (1933) and Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) moved African American actresses beyond maid and nanny roles. In 1934 she sang at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first African American to do so in over 50 years. George Gershwin wrote the role of Bess with her in mind, and she played it in the 1942 revival, touring until 1945. She retired from performing in 1952, later hosted the Chicago radio program I Remember When, and served on cultural missions to African nations. She was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1979.
102years old at death
- Born Weimar
- Died Chicago
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 4 years1933 to 1937
Every film, newest first
- 1937A Day at the RacesIMDb rating 7.5
- 1933Flying Down to RioIMDb rating 6.6
- 1933Gold Diggers of 1933IMDb rating 7.7
Genres
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Getting ready for a role
George Gershwin wrote the part of Bess in Porgy and Bess with Moten in mind, but she worried it lay above her contralto range; she took the role and refused to sing a racial slur, which Ira Gershwin then cut from the libretto.
Etta Moten movies on Netflix
Worked with
Etta Moten shares two films with Ginger Rogers, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Ginger Rogers's page
Eric Blore's page
Bess Flowers's page
Gino Corrado's page
Fred Astaire's page
Sig Ruman's page
Sam WoodDirector, 1 film, 1937
All films by Sam Wood
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 1 film, 1933
All films by Mervyn LeRoy
Thornton FreelandDirector, 1 film, 1933
All films by Thornton Freeland
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1979 to 1983.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1983 | Candace Award | Won | |
| 1983 | Honorary degree from Spelman College | Honorary | |
| 1979 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.