MAGAZINES: Queen Latifah Opens Up to UPTOWN About Playing Bessie Smith, Her First NUDE Scene, Homosexuality In The Black Community And What She Would Have Asked Bill Cosby

In the latest issue of UPTOWN, Queen Latifah dishes on her first nude scene, marriage equality and reveals what should would have asked Bill Cosby if she had the chance.  More inside...

Following the cancellation of her daytime talkie, The Queen Latifah Show, it's obvious that Oscar-nominated actress Queen Latifah is moving into a new phase of her career.  In "Queen Latifah's Next Move," for UPTOWN Magazine, she talks very candidly about the HBO film Bessie, a powerful biopic of blues singer Bessie Smith, and tackles some very serious subjects which have followed her throughout her career (e.g. sexuality).  

The wide-ranging article (read it in full here) also covers Queen Latifah's thoughts on homophobia in the Black community, marriage equality, and she reveals what she would have asked Bill Cosby regarding sexual assault allegations (if he hadn't canceled his interview with her).  It's very interesting....

Here are the highlights:

On her nude scene in HBO's Bessie: “I’ve never done that before. It was a little odd but it was also a quiet, relaxing thing. Sometimes she was so alone, and it was a moment for Bessie to acknowledge her vulnerability, which I can completely relate to ... I don’t find [this nude scene] any more uncomfortable than kissing a girl in Set It Off and sticking to the script. You have to take your mind off of yourself and honor that character. Respect Cleo, respect Bessie."

On marriage equality: "Who you choose to marry is really up to you and it’s not something you should be judged on. I don’t find being gay or lesbian to be a character flaw. Couples should be protected under the laws of this country period. It actually angers me."

On her talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, being canceled: "Obviously it was disappointing but I don’t look at these things as catastrophic failures. We have a lot going on in our company alone, so I’m not worried about my next job opportunity."

On Bill Cosby amid the rape allegations: "It’s unfortunate because he has done so much in terms of entertainment, culture and black folks. But right is right and wrong is wrong. All these women, all these stories, it’s just – what a big stain on such an amazing career."

On homosexuality: "People’s ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love. We haven’t moved as quickly as we probably should. And the reality is that there’s always been gay people in the black community, so it’s not foreign to us. And not just as a black community but just a society as a whole."

 

Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, Michael Kenneth Williams and Mo’Nique, premieres on HBO on May 16th.

 

Photos via ARI MICHELSON

 

source: theybf