Screengrab via YouTube

Lady Nancy Reed from “Dolemite Is My Name” is based on a real actress. In the Eddie Murphy movie, Reed is played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

During her acting and singing career, Reed went by the monikers The Madam and Queen Bee, the name of her character in the original movie version of “Dolemite.” According to her IMDb page, Reed appeared in four movies beginning with “Dolemite” in 1975.

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A May 2013 blog post on Reed said that the singer was discovered by Rudy Ray Moore, Eddie Murphy’s character from “Dolemite Is My Name.”

That blog post went on to say that in the 1980s, Reed’s voice was sampled predominately in the burgeoning House Music scene in Chicago. Among the songs she was featured on was “Sensuous Woman Goes Disco” by Jackmaster Dick’s Revenge.” The article noted that Reed’s influence in Chicago music extended to her style being emulated by Candy J.

Reed used the name, “The Madam” on her 1972 album, “The Sensuous Black Woman.” In the album liner notes, Reed says that the album was “dedicated to the female world in every respect.” Reed described the album as an “open trip to the black female world.” Reed says that the message of the album is that “woman was created for man’s companion, to love, respect, and to fulfill his every desire. The word “love” is a feeling: tension, fulfillment, hostility, gladness and pain.” The notes go on to describe the many stages of love and concludes with the words, “As The Madam delivers this message to you girls, don’t be shy; it could do you more good than harm. I love you.”

One review of “The Sensuous Black Woman” refers to Reed as being Rudy Ray Moore’s “chief partner in crime, and she’s funnier than anyone else on these records.”