Irene Cara (born March 18, 1962) is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling". She is best known for her recordings of the songs "Fame" and "Flashdance... What a Feeling". She also starred in the 1980 film version of Fame. She also starred in the 1976 movie Sparkle.

Cara's father, Gaspar Cara (died in 1994), was an Afro-Caribbean Puerto Rican. Her mother, Louise, is an American of French and Cuban descent. She has two sisters and two brothers.

She married Hollywood stuntman Conrad Palmisano in 1986. They divorced in 1991.