American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker led an incredibly colorful and at times controversial lifestyle. Singer, erotic dancer, and movie actress (she was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture), Baker was also a French Resistance agent, civil rights activist, and openly bisexual. She went through four husbands, adopted 12 children, and was awarded France's highest order of merit. She was, quite simply, unique.
Intrigued? Click through the following gallery and catch up with the life and career of one of the most extraordinary entertainers in show business history.