Decades before diversity became a topic of discussion in Hollywood, actress Merle Oberon, born Estelle Merle O’Brien Thompson in 1911 in Bombay (now Mumbai), was the first actor of Indian descent to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Her life was as dramatic as the films she starred in; a story intertwined with talent, identity, and navigating her world in the shadow of racial discrimination.
Escaping to England
Oberon faced significant struggles in her early life, growing up in Calcutta (Kolkata) where her mixed-race parentage affected her both personally and socially. Seeking escape, she headed to England, where her beauty and charisma quickly opened doors to the British film industry.
Once she arrived, she created a new identity for herself as a Tasmanian-born actress who conveniently left out her Indian roots.
Breakthrough Role: The Scarlet Pimpernel
Her first major role came in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” (1934), and in just two years, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in “The Dark Angel” (1935).
She continued to star in increasingly popular films such as “Wuthering Heights” (1939) and “That Uncertain Feeling” (1941) during a time when she became one of the most glamorous and recognizable actresses of the day.
Legacy: A Pioneer for Indian Actors in Hollywood
Yet behind the fame lay the story of a woman who had to erase part of herself to belong. Today, Merle Oberon’s legacy is remembered as a pioneering artist of Indian descent who broke barriers long before representation had a name.
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