Sybil Lewis(1919-1988)
- Actress
Attractive Sybil Lewis was one of the best, most convincing actresses
of Black Cinema. Her sophisticated, sometimes snooty presence was one
of many but her more popular approach to acting always worked whether
in drama, straight, romance or comedy roles and always remained
likable. Sybil's acting would remind one of a Rosalind Russell or even
Bette Davis. She was able to adapt to any role and make a film worth
watching even if she was the only one acting. Her training and natural
touch to acting, gave those films substantiality. "Mystery In Swing,"
"Broken Strings," "Am I Guilty?," "Midnight Menace," "Lucky Gamblers,"
"Boy! What a Girl!," and "Miracle in Harlem," are Black Cinema films
where Sybil and others got to be a real actress, not a "Black" actress
but actress without a label or stereotype and she got to play roles of
people from all walks of life unlike Blacks in Hollywood. Even in
Hollywood movies, "Revenge of the Zombies," "Going My Way," and "The
Very Thought of You," Sybil had a chance to use her acting skills and
not be stereotyped too much because of her race.
