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After fine-tuning her acting skills in Tyler Perry's 'I Can Do Bad All by Myself,' R&B superstar Mary J. Blige is ready for her next big challenge. The multi-Grammy Award winner is set to play legendary jazz musician Nina Simone in Cynthia Mort's 'Nina.'
Mort's script focuses on Simone's relationship with her assistant, Clifton Henderson, who will be played by David Oyelowo, backers said.
Simone died at the age of 70 at her home in 2003.
Henderson, who was at Simone's bedside, said she died of "natural causes" in her sleep after a long illness. He refused to provide the name of the town where she lived.
"She inspired other singers to do what they believed in," Henderson said, saying the musician would also be remembered for her activism. "She'll definitely be looked at as a civil rights movement leader."
Mort had previously written and directed the Jodie Foster vigilante film 'The Brave One,' with Terrence Howard.
Oyelowo is also set to star as Martin Luther King, Jr. in Lee Daniels' film 'Selma.'
Simone recorded more than 40 live and studio albums, and among her well-known songs are 'My Baby Just Cares for Me,' 'I Put a Spell on You,' 'Four Women,' 'I Loves You Porgy,' 'Feeling Good,''Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' and 'Sinnerman.'
The film will be shot in France in September with a budget of $10 million.
Comments: (17)
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By: algie on 5/13/2010 6:22PM
this is the role for mary.i can't wait for this movie to come out
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By: poetrysez on 5/13/2010 9:14PM
Nina Simone and legendary under the same breath, is about right. Mary J Blige may be young but she's lived a lifetime. Mary is talented and she is always reinventing herslf...she's truly gifted. For a better choice of words...Mary is multifaceted. And, she never forgot where she come from. Sistah isn't a floater, she's truly down to earth. I also can't wait for this movie to hit theaters.
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By: ernest on 5/14/2010 8:40AM
oh god no please find someone who can actually sing to play the great nina simone not this cat nails on a blackboard tune stealing moose!!!
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By: Bedstyborn on 5/14/2010 12:58PM
Oh please say this is not true!! This is an insult to the memory of the great Nina Simone, I know she is turning over in her grave. Who in the hell made this decisions? The movie will be a flop! I do not want to her mjb mess up "Alabama Got Dam".
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By: BedStyborn on 5/14/2010 5:30PM
I am so upset I realize I gave the wrong state regarding Nina Simone's song, "MISSISSIPPI GOT DAM, is the correct state.......so as far as mjb, all I can say is got dam11
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By: Sapphire on 5/15/2010 4:11PM
Sorry, but Mary can't act or sing.
Keep looking producers. Better yet, find an unknown and make them a star!
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By: Jess on 5/14/2010 9:00PM
I Love Mary as much as the next woman...but say it aint so!!!!! I would hope that they would seek a more experienced actress to play Nina. Her story is so powerful and I would be personally insulted if if they half assed on the production of her biopic!! Can we at least grow the perm and bleach blond out of Mary's hair first??
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By: Bug on 5/16/2010 2:34AM
I have been a staunch Nina fan since 1959. I have attended over a dozen Nina concerts, including her last two here in the States in 2000 and 2001. I have every recording of hers that was ever released, both here in the States and abroad. I have read every book that has been written about her. I even had the pleasure and honor of meeting her and talking with her. I have studed Nina and her music for her entire career. One might say that I am a student of Dr. Nina Simone. I was there during the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington and did my fair share of marching, sitting-in, protesting, being made to sit in the back of the bus, drinking from "colored" water fountains and using "colored" bathrooms, and generally feeling the hand of "Old Jim Crow" on my back. These are the same things that Nina lived through. And I understand it. I get it. Mary J. Blige has read about these things, but cannot fully understand them, because she has never experienced them or had to endure them. So, how can she possibly understand Nina or what motivated her? She has absolutely no idea who Nina is. It is an insult to THIS Nina Simone fan that Mary J. Blige's name is even mentioned in the same sentence with that of Nina in terms of her portraying The High Priestess of Soul. It would be interesting to hear how Nina's family feels about this. Did they appprove this or were they even consulted on who should portray Nina? I would love to hear their take on this.
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By: kaino on 5/17/2010 7:54AM
So with your criteria, who the hell would be fit to play the role. It's easy to criiticize the choice, but then again you gave no example of who should have been chosen. Mary can't understand because she never lived through those struggles? So hey everybody go find a 70+ year old to play this role! Those who criticize her acting need to understand. When choosing who will play these characters they make tough decisions. Such as, do they want someone who can act but can't sing? Or someone who can sing but not as good as acting. To be true to the character they chose the singing. You can't have it both ways people, how many people can do both? Black women love to put other black women down no matter what. You always have negative things to say about every freaking female celebrity. There are enough whites who believe and will criticize her, if that's what you want to do too, then join in with them. We don't have enough love for ourselves and our community as a whole. Anyone who has followed Mary's career and her struggles would be happy for her.
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By: mzjanuary205 on 5/16/2010 12:04PM
I think MJB is a wrong choice for this. I like Mary, don't get me wrong, but girlfriend is NO actress.
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