Born in Detroit, MI. Pop superstar who graduated from lead singer of The Supremes, the most famous girl group in showbiz, to a solo act combining coy, feline sexuality with slick packaging. From the start Ross seemed intent on being the supreme Supreme. She was romantically involved with Motown head Berry Gordy, while Florence Ballard, the original lead singer (whose voice was arguably superior to Ross's and third Supreme Mary Wilson's) was relegated to background status. In 1967, Ballard was replaced and with her went all vestiges of the group's authentic soul; by late 1967, the group was known as Diana Ross and the Supremes. In the Billie Holliday story, LADY SINGS THE BLUES (1972), Gordy and Ross saw a chance to present a new Ross, tinged with irony and tenderized by tragic flaw. Their film version was successful even though Ross's reading of Holliday today seems superficial. She was rewarded with an Oscar nomination and seemed to have found herself musically. Next she was MAHOGANY (1975), a ghetto-born fashion diva up to her opera gloves in suds and suitors. Gordy took over directing from Tony Richardson, and critics had a fine old time roasting the result. The next year, Ballard died of a heart attack while living on welfare, and public opinion of Ross seemed to sour. THE WIZ (1978), a monumental career mistake which failed to recreate the Broadway triumph and brought the mature Ross unfavorable comparisons with Judy Garland, did nothing to turn the tide. Since then Ross's popularity has seemed to wane, though her string of pop hits continued well into the mid-80s. She works almost solely in television now, on music specials and made-for-television movies. She has been criticized for forgetting her roots, but she nonetheless created a new superstar status for blacks where none existed before.  Nominated for Actress 1972: LADY SINGS THE BLUES 1 nomination