Exclusive: Audra McDonald on playing Aretha Franklin's mother in Respect
Coming out this week is the feature film RESPECT, based on the life of music icon Aretha Franklin and starring Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson. Following the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of Aretha Franklin’s journey to find her voice. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the film hits theaters on August 13.
Hudson, who was personally hand-picked by Franklin to play her in the film, is joined by a stellar cast of stars including Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin; Marlon Wayans as Ted White; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington; Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Tony winner Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Tate Donovan as John Hammond and Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with 6-Time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, who plays Aretha’s mother Barbara Franklin, about meeting Ms. Franklin before her death and the songs she sang in the film. McDonald can currently be seen in the Paramount+ drama series The Good Fight.
Earlier she starred opposite Will Swenson in the Spectrum series The Bite. She last appeared on Broadway in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.