Queen Latifah Will Be Playing Legendary Blues Singer Bessie Smith For HBO's Forthcoming Biopic

Queen Latifah Will Be Playing Legendary Blues Singer
Bessie Smith For HBO's Forthcoming Biopic 

BHR Hollywood Reports........Queen Latifah has channeled legendary blues singer Bessie Smith for HBO's forthcoming telepic set for May.

Queen Latifah

  

Bessie Smith

The Oscar-nominated actress will star in the title role of Bessie, which follows the entertainer's transformation from struggling young singer to "The Empress of the Blues."

 The film will also show how Smith became one of the most successful and highest paid African-American performers of the 1920s.

Latifah is joined by Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Tory Kittles, Mike Epps, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, Charles S. Dutton and Mo'Nique.

Queen Latifah revealed that she’s far more prepared to take on Smith today than she was back then during the height of her rap career.

"I had no idea who Bessie Smith was, to be honest with you.

 I had to become familiar with who she was in particular,” said Latifah. “I was just blown away.

 I could hear her voice in so many people who came after her … If there was a Bessie Smith alive today, she'd blow everyone else out of the water. I could never match her true ability."