Muriel Smith

Muriel Smith was an African-American singer in theatrical musicals, an opera singer, and a voice teacher at the Virginia Union University. From 1949 until the early 1960s, she lived and worked as an expatriate in London. Her signature role for many years was that of Carmen in either Bizet's original opera or the modernized adaptation "Carmen Jones".

While primarily associated with stage performances, Smith was at times hired to provide the singing voice for various film characters. She provided the singing voice for Zsa Zsa Gabor's character in the film "Moulin Rouge" (1952). and for April Olrich's character in "The Battle of the River Plate" (1956). She also provided the singing voice for the character of Bloody Mary in the film version of "South Pacific" (1958), having previously portrayed the character on stage. Smith turned down an on-screen part in the 1959 film version of George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess".