Born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she rose to fame in the 1970s as a leading figure in the blaxploitation genre. Known for her powerful performances and strong, independent characters, she starred in films like "Coffy" (1973) and "Foxy Brown" (1974). Her career experienced a resurgence with Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" (1997), earning critical acclaim. Throughout her career, she became an icon of empowerment and a trailblazer for African-American actresses.