Queen Latifah “had no idea” who Bessie Smith was before playing her.
The 44-year-old singer-and-television show host portrays the iconic blues songstress in an upcoming TV movie biopic entitled Bessie for cable network HBO. But prior to stepping into her shoes as an actress, Queen had to study up on music history.
"I had no idea who Bessie Smith was, to be honest with you,” she told USA Today. “I had to become familiar with who she was in particular."
But once she did discover facts about the legendary musician, she was more than just surprised. Bessie is famed for being one of the founders of blues back in the 1920s, and is currently noted as an inspiration for much of today’s jazz music.
"I was just blown away,” explained Queen. “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."
Queen herself is most known for her hip-hop prowess. She told the publication that when the role of Bessie was first presented to her by producers, she was more interested in rap and had no knowledge of the blues mother. But she’s since altered her perspective.
"The blues, the blues, I've gained such a great amount of respect for the blues,” Queen gushed. “The blues are just as stunning to me now as when this first came to me. If anything, I feel like I have a little more of the story of what Bessie had to say."
The Bessie Smith biopic follows her life as she struggles to overcome personal issues to become a superstar in the music industry. It’s based on both her life and Chris Albertson’s biography of her, and the script was penned and will be directed by Dee Rees.
A release date for Bessie is yet to be announced, but it’ll premiere on HBO sometime in 2015.
