Latifah doesnt just make us believe in bessie smiths claim to fame. Queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Bessie tv movie 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. May 16, 2015 queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to bring bessie smiths life to the screen and finally. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by dee rees and christopher cleveland. Queen latifah pariahs dee rees will pen the script and direct the telepic for the cable network. Jun 23, 2015 queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. May 16, 2015 queen latifah was a young rapper just beginning to dabble in acting when she was first approached about the possibility of playing the lead in a film about singer bessie smith. Yeah, this project came pretty early in my career as an actress, latifah told npr. When she first got the script, she told strassmann, i didnt know who. Queen latifah is a grammy awardwinning rapper, record producer and actress, known for her roles in the bigscreen adaptation of chicago and the tv film bessie.
In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the blues. Nature of a sista 1991 was her second and final album with. She later became a notable actress, appearing in such films as jungle fever, living out loud, chicago, and last holiday. Queen latifah schools you with a bruising display of fierce drive, unstoppable talent and a gallery of personal demons as blues legend bessie smith in an hbo biopic.
While queen latifah and monique are outstanding, i was somewhat disappointed in the facts not facts presented. Bessie, on hbo, stars queen latifah as blues singer. Dutton was in development for more than 20 years, with latifah always pegged to play a person she knew little of. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait. Queen latifah is bringing bessie smith to life in hbos forthcoming biopic on the legendary bluesjazz singer. The rapper, actress, and talk show host will star in and exec produce a bessie smith biopic for. This hbo biopic about legendary blues singer bessie smith queen latifah doesnt shy away from smiths bisexuality, and shows her relationship with her lover lucille, who serves as a. At 45, queen latifah is playing a part she was first offered when she was 22. In the new aprilmay issue of uptown magazine the awardwinning powerhouse opened up on one of the biopics most compelling scenes. Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie video. Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. Nudity, bisexuality, belting the bluesshe says none of it scared her.
Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. Dana elaine owens born march 18, 1970, better known by her stage name queen latifah, is an american rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, and producer. May, 2015 a star vehicle and then some, bessie casts queen latifah as blues singer bessie smith, in a big, bold movie thats as vibrant, raw and musical as it is unfocused and messy. Bessie music moment long old road hbo films hd queen latifah nopopcorn. As of 2016, bessie remained the most watched hbo original movie of all time with 1. Queen latifah filmography singer, songwriter, rapper, aactress, queen latifah is an american rapper, singersongwriter, actress, model, producer and talk show host who started her acting career in 1991 with small roles in the films jungle fever and house party 2, and the television show the fresh prince of belair. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a. Apr 03, 2015 check out the new trailer for bessie, the hbo biopic of blues singer bessie smith starring queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, and monique. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a. Queen latifah was a young rapper just beginning to dabble in acting when she was first approached about the possibility of playing the lead in a film about singer bessie smith.
The film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose. Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie. Queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to bring. Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships and incomparable artistry in the. Queen latifah was the first hiphop artist to receive a star on the hollywood walk of fame. Queen latifah inhabits a blues legend in hbo biopic bessie. May, 2015 queen latifah is so convincing in the new hbo movie bessie, that you will find yourself googling the real empress of blues just to differentiate the two the rapper turned actress mesmerizes as.
The equalizer 2020 drama queen latifah watch academy award nominee and multihyphenate queen latifah chicago, bessie along with executive producers and cocreators terri miller and andrew marlowe explain more about the equalizer, a new cbs crime drama that reimagines the classic series. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Queen latifah to star as bessie smith in hbo biopic. Queen latifah plays the blues singer bessie smith in the biopic, which.
Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Queen latifah list of movies and tv shows tv guide. Often considered hiphops first lady though some would attribute that to roxanne shante, the woman behind the moniker queen latifah was born dana elaine owens on march 18, 1970, in east orange, new jersey. Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and. If you want to make a movie about bessies turbulent, amazing life, then do not adjust the story her life was dramatic and interesting without adding fictional bits or stretching the truth to make it more enjoyable. Latifah does not have the guts and growl of smith and plays it a little too rebecca from sunnybrook farm. Queen latifah real name is dana elaine owens a popular american singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedienne, and talk show host.
Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships and incomparable artistry in the downanddirty world of southern blues. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to. Apr 14, 2017 queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Bessie, a musical biopic starring queen latifah as bessie smith, wont leave its star singin the blues come award time. Queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to bring bessie smiths life to the screen and finally.
Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her. Bessie smith queen latifah is a young singer from chattanooga, tennessee. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Check out the new trailer for bessie, the hbo biopic of blues singer bessie smith starring queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, and monique.
The film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young sing er into the empress of the blues, who became one of the most successful. Bessie is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is. Hbos bessie, premiering saturday on the network, is a flawed drama that nonetheless warrants a look simply because of the bright spotlight it gives the underrated talents of star queen latifah, who does quite easily the best work of her career here. Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable. In the first full scene of bessie, the title character queen latifah is getting hot and heavy in an alley when her paramour goes a grope too far. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the. Bessie character spot queen latifah bessie hbo films teaser trailer.
Latifah was best known as a rap artist in the 1990s when producers richard d. And queen latifah played queen latifah just like she does in all her movies. This sexuallycharged, intense look at blues icon bessie smith often feels defiantly episodic, as if cowriterdirector dee rees is. Bessie also starring khandi alexander, monique, oliver platt and charles s. Furthermore, she is known for her critically acclaimed films like chicago2002 and bessie 2015. With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. Her success in music in the late 1980s launched a wave of female rappers and helped redefine the traditionally male genre. May 17, 2015 bessie also starring khandi alexander, monique, oliver platt and charles s. She makes us feel for every gifted africanamerican singer and actor, from smith to latifah herself, who hasnt been given the. Queen latifah on bessie, her past and what shell conquer next. In september 20, queen latifah became the host of her very own talk show which she produced with partner shakim compere, and overbrook entertainments will smith, jada smith and james lassiter. Queen latifah is so convincing in the new hbo movie bessie, that you will find yourself googling the real empress of blues just to differentiate the two the rapper turned actress mesmerizes as.
Bessie smith played by queen latifah on bessie hbo. Mar 25, 2016 queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by dee rees and christopher cleveland. Queen latifah topless screenshots from the bessie 2015 movie. Queen latifah opens up on nude bessie scene huffpost. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by. Latifah plays an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses. May 03, 2015 at 45, queen latifah is playing a part she was first offered when she was 22. Queen latifah is an american rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actress known for her grammy awardwinning hit single, u. May 10, 2015 queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. Its all about laughing, being together, and having a good time. Mar 12, 2020 queen latifah is a grammy awardwinning rapper, record producer and actress, known for her roles in the bigscreen adaptation of chicago and the tv film bessie. Queen latifah stars as bessie smith in this vivid portrait of the legendary 20th century blues singer. Some movies it fits her character and some it doesnt.
She came to understand that queen latifah had become a brand. The multihyphenate with a golden voice has always shown outstanding presence. The equalizer official announcement hd queen latifah. Born in newark, new jersey, she signed with tommy boy records in 1989 and released her debut album all hail the queen on november 28, 1989, featuring the hit single ladies first. Queen latifah full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. She came from a police familyboth her father and her older brother. Watch the trailer for the hbo biopic, starring queen. I was basically queen latifah, the hiphop head, queen latifah, the rapperturnedactress. When she first got the script, she told strassmann, i didnt know who bessie smith was. If you want to make a movie about bessie s turbulent, amazing life, then do not adjust the story her life was dramatic and interesting without adding fictional bits or stretching the truth to make it more enjoyable. Life lessons from the queen, was released in may 2010.
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