Diahann Carroll: gorgeous at 70, she's still in a class of her own

WITH her radiant voice and style, award-winning actress Diahann Carroll is scaling new heights and headlining a concert tour once again, beginning in April. "Performing is like an old friend," says Carroll during a phone interview from New York, where she likes to spend time enjoying Broadway theater. "It completes a picture of oneself. I know that kind of creativity is a part of me. It makes me feel whole. I need it. It keeps me in touch with people. Besides, I have a helluva good time."

The consummate performer, a Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actress, is also a Grammy Award nominee and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as a welfare mother in Claudine. She will kick off her national tour on April 18 at the Michael Feinstein Theater in New York City.

Born Carol Diahann Johnson in the Bronx, N.Y., she was in high demand as a nightclub singer and model while still in high school. She was featured as a model in EBONY magazine and, throughout the years, has graced the covers of countless magazines.

"Mr. [John H.] Johnson [EBONY and Jet founder] was very supportive, and he directed me to several people who were helpful in areas of my career," she says. "I always called him and Harry [Belafonte] when I had a problem. They always helped me to find direction."

During the late 1960s, Carroll captivated many admirers with the positive image of the beautiful, middle-class Black nurse she played in her own groundbreaking television series Julia (1968-1971). She became the first Black actress in television history to star in a prime-time show on NBC. It soared to the top of the Neilsen ratings and received an Emmy nomination in its first year on the air.

At 70, the still-glamorous Carroll, a breast cancer survivor, continues to inspire countless women. And her portrayal of Black women on stage, TV and film has influenced how Black women are viewed.

She is also a funny and down-to-earth woman with frank observations about marriage, career and show business. "It is very sad that most women in show business have sad lives," Carroll says. "It's almost impossible to have a happy life and always be away from the home. Trying to have a serious relationship with someone in the same career is usually a disaster. So much attention is paid to the female."

Carroll made her Broadway stage debut starring in Harold Arlen and Truman Capote's House of Flowers. She won the Tony Award for her starring role in No Strings and also starred on Broadway in the award-winning play Agnes of God.

Her film work includes Claudine, Carmen Jones, Paris Blues, Porgy & Bess, Hurry Sundown, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Eve's Bayou.

On television, Carroll starred as the "devilish" Dominique Devereaux in the daring 1984 series Dynasty. Later, she had a recurring role in the hit series Soul Food, playing the outspoken Aunt Ruthie.

Recently, Carroll starred in the musical Bubbling Brown Sugar and received critical acclaim.

Crossing over to business, Carroll created her own line of wigs, clothes and eyewear. She continues to show staying power--and continues to look fabulously young.

"It's no secret," she says, regarding her impeccable appearance. "It's hard work. It's called maintenance, and it's [tough]. It"s exercise, diet, deprivation and determination. It has to be a lifestyle. We must also learn to place two hands on the table--push back and walk away."

At this turning point, the entertainer looks forward to future acting roles and a new line of lingerie. Carroll is also completing her autobiography. "While it's not the time to start taking tap lessons at 70," she says, "it's very important to continue to gather information to do whatever is stimulating and helps you to continue to grow."

COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning