Women in History · Head-to-head
Sirimavo Bandaranaike vs Ella Fitzgerald
Yes — based on their recorded years, Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916–2000) and Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
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Sirimavo Bandaranaike
The world's first woman elected prime minister, who led Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) across three separate terms spanning four decades.
Key achievements
- Became the world's first woman elected prime minister in 1960
- Served as prime minister of Sri Lanka across three separate terms between 1960 and 2000
- Led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for over three decades
- Held the record for longest cumulative tenure as prime minister in Sri Lankan history
Fast fact
Bandaranaike was elected prime minister in 1960 after her husband, the previous prime minister, was assassinated, becoming the world's first elected female head of government.
Full profile of Sirimavo Bandaranaike →Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz vocalist known as the 'First Lady of Song,' celebrated for her purity of tone and virtuosic scat singing over a career spanning six decades.
Key achievements
- Rose to fame after winning an amateur talent contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater in 1934.
- Became renowned for her innovative and virtuosic scat singing technique.
- Won 13 Grammy Awards throughout her recording career.
- Recorded influential 'songbook' albums interpreting the work of major American composers.
Fast fact
Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards over her career and was one of the first African American women to win a Grammy, at the very first Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959.
Full profile of Ella Fitzgerald →Who lived first, Sirimavo Bandaranaike or Ella Fitzgerald?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916–2000) lived first, before Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), based on their recorded years.
Were Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Ella Fitzgerald contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916–2000) and Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Ella Fitzgerald have in common?
Both Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Ella Fitzgerald are grouped among our Women in History figures and lived during the Modern Era.