Aretha wants Halle!

                Oscar winning actress Halle Berry is first pick to play eighteen time Grammy winner and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in her upcoming biopic about her life.  This however, is not Berry’s first time playing a singer in a film.  In 1999, she played Dorothy Dandridge in her biopic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and earned herself a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a NAACP Image Award.  Halle Berry is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, earning $10 million per film.

                Aretha has had 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart. From her mouth comes a soulful, strong, perfectly controlled, raspy, and gospel influenced voice.  Her biopic announcement comes eight years after the biopic film release of fellow Queen…of Rock and Roll that is, Tina Turner.  Turner’s biopic film “What’s Love Got to Do with it?” was released in 1993 featuring Angela Bassett playing Tina.  However, Bassett was not the first actress offered the role. Halle was considered for this role as well. Singer Whitney Houston was first to be given the role, but had to decline due to imminent maternity.

                Here’s a little something you may not remember or have known.  Grammy Award winning singer and Golden Globe nominated actress Beyonce’ Knowles called out Tina Turner at the 2008 Grammy Awards as “The Queen”. Franklin responded the following day with a statement indicating her displeasure with that occurring. She was sure to mention she was not sure whose fault it was, the Grammy writers or Beyonce’. She went on to still say she has love for Beyonce’.  There is room for more than one Queen. Aretha and Tina don’t even sing the same type of music. Furthermore, a real queen doesn’t have to remind us.

                I would like to go on to say that there has been drama in the past between the two actresses as well, Bassett and Berry. How ironic huh? That not only Tina and Aretha got had issues but the actresses that play them did too? Can’t we all just get along? Bassett was originally offered the role in the Monster’s Ball film that Berry won her Oscar for. However, Bassett turned it down due to the nudity and sexual content. She felt as though the character portrayed black women in a stereotypical manor. Bassett makes a habit of speaking up for black actresses and speaking out against stereotypical roles. Halle, however was hurt by Bassett’s words. They later made up. Though, I wouldn’t have cared too much about making up. I would have just cared about that Oscar I got! Halle Berry has not accepted the role as of yet due to her lack of a singing ability. However, Aretha does not seem to care about that. Hopefully something will be worked out, lip-syncing is an option of course. I for one didn't expect Halle to be singing, Franklin's voice should be used/heard.