Editing Debbie Allen (section)

===1982–1987: ''Fame''===
{{see also|The Kids from "Fame"}}
In the film [[Fame (1980 film)|''Fame'']] (1980), Allen played the role of Lydia Grant. Though the film role was relatively small, Lydia became a central figure in the [[Fame (1982 TV series)|television adaptation]], which ran from 1982 to 1987. During the opening montage of each episode, Grant told her students: "You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat." Allen was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Emmy Award for Best Actress]] four times during the show's run.<ref name=emmys/> She is the only actress to have appeared in all three screen incarnations of ''Fame'', playing Lydia Grant in both the 1980 film and 1982 television series and playing the school principal in the [[Fame (2009 film)|2009 remake]]. Allen was also lead choreographer for the film and television series, winning two [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography]] and one [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy]].<ref name="auto"/> She became the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/botwc-firsts/34-years-ago-debbie-allen-took-home-a-golden-globe|title=34 Years Ago Debbie Allen Took Home a Golden Globe|website=BOTWC|date=January 8, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729072416/https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/botwc-firsts/34-years-ago-debbie-allen-took-home-a-golden-globe|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1986, Allen received a second Tony Award nomination, at that time for [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Actress in a Musical]], for her performance in the title role of [[Bob Fosse]]'s ''[[Sweet Charity]]''.<ref name=tonyaw/> Also that year, she had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film ''[[Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling]]'' directed, produced by and starring [[Richard Pryor]].