Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Deadline is reporting that Scandal actress Khandi Alexander and Oscar winning-actress Mo’Nique have been added to Queen Latifah’s biopic about rhythm and blues queen, Bessie Smith.
Mo’Nique has been tapped to play Ma Rainey, one of music’s first blues singers and affectionately known as The Mother of the Blues. Alexander will play Bessie’s older sister, Viola, who took care of her after their parents and one brother died.
As previously reported, Bessie (formally known as Blue Goose Hollow ) is being produced by HBO in partnership with Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment and the Zanuck Co. Bessie is written and directed by Dee Ress and will chronicle Smith’s rise to fame as a trouble youth to become one of music’s most influential artists of the last century.
RC will keep you posted on additional casting for this film.
Photo Credit: NYPost.com