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When it was announced last week that Tyler Perry will be writing, directing and producing a film version of Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf,' there was plenty of talk as to who would be cast.
Well, while promoting his latest film, 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself,' which opens Sept. 11, Perry talked about who he wanted to appear in the movie. Among the chosen few are Oscar winner Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Beyonce Knowles, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys.
Of the 11 actresses mentioned, six have already committed to be in the film, but Perry wouldn't say who exactly.
Oprah loves to act, so will you ever do a film for her?
Tyler Perry: Yes, she's in my next movie, 'For Colored Girls.' Here's what I will tell you. Here's my dream cast, and it hasn't been officially announced yet. There are 15 characters in the film and my dream cast is Kimberly Elise, Cicely Tyson, Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, Thandie Newton, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce. I've talked to 6 of the women and they have said yes. You have to figured out that part.
No Mary J. Blige?
TP: She just told me that she wants to be in it, so we'll see.
Will 'Colored' be different from the play and will you be throwing your name in front of the title?
TP: My name will not be in front of the title because it's not an original work for me. There will be no Madea, so all of you can relax. It's going to be true to what it is. If you know anything about the play, you know that it's a bunch of poems. There's no real story, and that's probably why it's never been made into a movie. The way the movie opens is that all of these different women are leading their own lives, and they pass each other and you follow their stories. No one knows each other and halfway in the movie, they end up in this center that this woman started called 'The Colored Girl center,' where women go through like a 12-step program for healing. That's what the script is about. I want to make sure that I respect and honor the play because it was written before I was born.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Atlanta in November and continue through December, with a release planned for next year.
First off, we acknowledge that 'sexiness' is extremely subjective, but since when has that stopped anyone from offering their opinion? It certainly hasn't kept us from taking note of the women who have served it up to us over and over again on the silver screen. That kind of consistency deserves recognition. That's why Black Voices took time out to compile a list of the top 30 sexiest actresses of all time. Although many of the women on our list have excelled in various media throughout their careers, we decided to rank each actress based on their "sex appeal in feature films, roles and scenes." Whether you agree or disagree with our rankings, we want to hear your opinion. Why not give us your own top 30 sexy actresses list? Please post your thoughts, comments and/or opinions in our community message board. Let the sexiness begin!
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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Comments: (102)
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By: Tiff on 9/11/2009 7:06PM
Please leave Beyonce out of this Tyler! Why would you put such a non-talented actress in the mix with so many wonderful, dynamic women? Sanaa and Nia would do just fine!
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By: jule on 9/17/2009 10:56PM
mathew knowles probably slipped tyler a little something.
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By: coop 11 on 9/11/2009 8:10PM
Let's not forget Alfree Woodard. She would light up the silver screen...one of the best actresses in the business.
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By: stiltwalker on 9/14/2009 1:44PM
DITTO. Would love to see her in this...
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By: Ellie on 9/11/2009 9:27PM
At least it is not Madea! Now we'll see if he can do as well with a different kind of material.
Oh and by the way, can Beyonce and Mariah; trade them in for real actreses, maybe someone new for whom this could be a career break through. I'm tired of watching Beyonce and Mariah shake their "parts" all over the place; please use real actresses who have acting talent.
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By: dana on 9/11/2009 9:38PM
I want to see Oprah in films again. If she retires from her daytime I want to see her in many more films. Or she can be a person that travels around to different places and show us something we have never seen before. I hope he pick Oprah!!!
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By: lumineers on 9/11/2009 11:09PM
why not give some of the other actresss a chance to get a pay day?? theres a lot of others that can fill the bill. theres a host of others actressess thats not working, theres a host of others.
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By: whatever on 9/14/2009 1:31AM
Please no Beyonce, Mariah, or Alicia...Use a really talented actress/singer, Heather Headley. Beyonce and Alicia are too commercialized and are given too much credit for the talent they do not have.
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By: Trenet on 9/11/2009 11:54PM
I think that is a good cast but I think he should rethink putting Beyonce and Mariah Carey in it because they cannot act. I think he should call Jennifer Hudson for a role because she played the hell out of her part in everything she has been in so I think she should consider her for something.
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By: Tanyka on 9/12/2009 10:47AM
I actually did this play when I was in high school and attended the Henry Street Settlement Drama School for the Arts in NYC(yes, the same place that was used in the movie;"Boomerang") and Sanaa Lathan was in my class back then. This is a very powerful play of poems with strong african american women characters and I am glad that Tyler Perry will embark on putting this on the big screen because this is overdue. Everyone especially women of color must see this movie when it comes out.
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