YOUR FAVORITE LOGO TV SHOWS ARE ON PARAMOUNT+

First Look At Queen Latifah As Queer Jazz Icon Bessie Smith In New HBO Biopic

The first photos of Queen Latifah as jazz icon Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie have surfaced—and piqued our interest. The film follows the 1920s singer's rise from poverty to the "Empress of Jazz," and recounts her career successes, drinking problem and affairs with both men and women.

Latifah will also sing a number of Smith's best known songs for the film, which premieres May 16.

She admits she was glad the film took more than two decades to get made. "When the project came my way, I don't think I had the life journey that went along with it," she said at the winter Television Critics Association press conference. "I got to live more of the blues."

Related: Queen Latifah Officiates Mass Wedding With Gay And Straight Couples At The Grammys

Bessie also stars Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey, and Bryan Greenberg portrays John Hammond, the Columbia Records rep who signed Smith, as well as Khandi Alexander,  Mike Epps, Oliver Platt and Charles S. Dutton. It's being directed by queer filmmaker Dee Rees, whose lesbian coming-of- age film, Pariah ,garnered critical acclaim in 2012.

Speaking of lesbians coming of age, Latifah has long dodged speculation about her sexuality—maybe this role is her way of tiptoeing out of the closet. Of course, playing a badass lesbian in Set it Off didn't lead to any big revelations.

Bessie debuts on HBO on May 16.

h/t: Billboard

Latest News