Do I even really have to explain how excited I am about the combination of dramatic storylines and opulent clothing and fabulous sets? No? 

Didn’t think so.

Instead, while we wait for the nighttime soap opera’s return to television, I’m sharing my favorite clip from the series, featuring the one and only Diahann Carroll as the mysterious and glamourous Dominique Deveraux.

Why does this matter? Every African-American actress in a leading role on television today owes a debt to Ms. Carroll, who broke ground in the 1960s as nurse and single mom Julia, and as Dynasty’s elegant sphinx. Her roles (along with Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura, Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, and others) opened up society’s view to the fact that women of color could and should be much more than flat stereotypes.

Read more about Dynasty’s reboot by clicking HERE.

And in this clip, Ms. Carroll discuss how the role came to be. 

P.S. Yes, I am a child of the 80’s. NO, I was not named for Alexis Carrington.