Exclusive: Jennifer Hudson on playing Aretha Franklin, knowing her songs and working wih Liesl Tommy in Respect
Now playing in theaters from director Tommy Liesl 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.
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.
For Hudson, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role of Effie White on her debut film Dreamgirls, this is another role she showcases her finest skill set, acting and singing. Having Ms. Franklin’s blessing to play her comes with enormous pressure, but Hudson does her proud and with grace. Her previous credits include Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Secret Life of Bees, Winnie Mandela, Kasi Lemmons’ Black Nativity, Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq,and more recently Anthony Mandler’s Monster.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Hudson as she spoke about playing Ms. Franklin, singing her songs, and working with Liesl Tommy on her film directorial debut.
