Vonetta McGee (1945–2010) was an American actress who became one of the most iconic and sought-after faces of the Blaxploitation era in the 1970s. Born in San Francisco, she began her film career in Italy, starring in the spaghetti western The Great Silence (1968). Upon returning to the United States, she quickly landed leading roles that defined the genre, including the vampire princess Tina in Blacula (1972), the eponymous role in Melinda (1972), and the indomitable Aleme in Shaft in Africa (1973). She also distinguished herself alongside Clint Eastwood in The Eiger Sanction (1975). Although critical of the term “Blaxploitation,” her charismatic presence and beauty made her a symbol of strength and independence on screen. In the 1980s, she moved primarily to television, starring in series such as L.A. Law. She was married to actor Carl Lumbly, with whom she had a son.