Queen Latifah is certainly a great role model for women everywhere, and she should definitely be praised for it.
The 45-year-old actress is gearing up for the release of her new HBO film project, Bessie, where she plays the famous Blues singer Bessie Smith, but not before she lets her voice be heard.
Ms. Latifah recently covered Uptown Magazine for their next issue, and spoke with them on a slew of topics, including her experience with her first nude scene on film, the allegations against Bill Cosby, and much more. See some snippets below.
On doing her first nude scene:
“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. When you get to strip it all down and have a moment to yourself, sometimes the world comes crashing down in that little moment, or maybe it’s a moment of peace… 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 the allegations against Bill Cosby:
“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 the lack of acceptance of homosexuality in the black community:
“People’s ideas in general are antiquated when it comes to who you love,” she said. “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… 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. It’s not unusual so let’s be adults and let’s move forward.”
On her talk show being cancelled:
“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.”
To read her full cover feature, head over to Uptown Magazine.
SOURCE: Uptown Magazine | PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram
