Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Biography

Madame Sul-Te-Wan was a pioneering African-American actress who broke barriers in Hollywood's early years. Born Nellie Crawford to former slaves, she began her career touring the East Coast with theatrical companies before joining California's fledgling film community. She became known for her versatility as a character actress, starring in high-profile films like The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance, and was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1986.