Lena Horne...
 

Hello Sorors,

I was wondering if any of you have heard that Lena Horne does not want Janet Jackson playing the role in her upcoming movie on ABC.

Does anyone know if that is true???

Re: Lena Horne...
 

Don't know if it is true, but I can't see Janet playing Lena anyway.

Stranger things have happened
 

[QUOTE but I can't see Janet playing Lena anyway. [/B][/QUOTE]

Well if Diana Ross can "play" Dorothy (the Wiz)????????:D

I can't see Janet in that role either. And although I like Halle Barry...there has got to be another actress out there who can play this role.

Other actresses
 

Except for the fact there's really not much physical resemblance and that she's British, how about Thandie Newton? Or Jada Pinkett Smith?

Re: Other actresses
 

I think it should be an "unknown" who can really sing.

I think it should be Jasmine Guy.

Re: Re: Other actresses
 

I totally agree.

If not get Angela Bassett, everyone she plays, she literally transforms into. :eek: ;)

Re: Re: Re: Other actresses
 

True, but the problem with Angela and others is skin complexion. A lot of what Lena went through was because of her skin color--either she was too Black or too White, depending on the role or audience. It was a major factor back then in shaping her career.

What about Tamia?

O/T, but I have to share
 

I'm not sure if you remember but there was a song out in the 80's called "Close My Eyes Forever" that was a duet by Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford. A couple years ago, someone called a local rock station to request it (they often play callers on the air) and said "I want to hear Close My Eyes Forever by Ozzy Osbourne and Lena Horne."

Needless to say the DJ laughed for like 10 minutes on air. :p

back to the question, I also think it should be an unknown or slightly known with an outstanding voice. Dubbing ain't gonna cut it.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Other actresses
 

Oh definitely but you missed me and my facetiousness again. :(

She may have been able to play her years ago but she aged very badly!

I would like to see Alicia Keys or Sanaa Lathan.

I'd like to see Jasmine play the role too.

Also, yes, I heard that Lena Horne does not want Janet playing her due to the recent breast-gate incident.

SC

I think Jasmine Guy is a good choice as well.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Other actresses
 

Dang, and I thought I could read you so well :(

I agree. Jasmine has not aged well, and Lena is known for how long she maintained her youthful look.

The last time I saw a photo of Lena Horne, she looked like she could pass for someone in her 40s. I want what she has.

Jasmine Guy on the other hand looks like she is in her 40s or beyond.

Does she look that bad? I haven't seen her in a while, but I remember she had a CD. Anyone have any recent pictures of her?

I have to agree with both ladygreek and mccoyred - seems like the years have definitely caught up with Jasmine.

Neosoulchild, if you ever catch Showtime's "Dead Like Me" she's on there (cussing like a sailor, but I digress). I think it usually comes on Friday nights around 10 or so. It's actually a cute show; it's been a while since I've seen it.

What happened to Jasmine Guy? I hope this is not some H-A-T-0-R-A-T-I-O-N going on. :D

by the way I'd vote for Sanaa Lathan to play "da Horne."

No hateration--I like Jasmine Guy. But she looks as if life has been hard for her these past years. Especially if you compare her to how Jada looks now.

I didn't know Jasmine Guy aged badly, poor thing!:( I just watched the Henry Louis Gates documentary again (Beyond the Color Line?) and I noticed that Alicia Keys said she would be interested in playing Lena Horne. Maybe that's the better choice now (like it's really up to us anyway;) )

From mtv.com:

Janet Jackson is no longer slated to play Lena Horne in an ABC biopic. After the singer's Super Bowl halftime flash, Horne demanded that Jackson be disinvited from playing her, causing Jackson and the movie's executive producers to pull out of the project, which had been green-lit last fall. Jackson was recently photographed in Vanity Fair portraying Horne, and was to serve as an executive producer as well as record her own versions of Horne's songs for the film, scheduled for May. The project now remains in limbo, according to an ABC spokesperson.

I could never see Janet, Jasmine, Sanaa, or Alicia playing Lena Horne. None of these women IMO could ever compare. I would pick Alicia DEAD LAST out of the 4 women above. Alicia is still very rough around the edges and does not come off as effeminate to me. Lena is a class act, graceful, and such; none of which Alicia makes me feel when I see her. There is no doubt that she is talented but IMO not the right choice to play Lena Horne. I say find an unknown talent to play the part.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Janet Jackson Bows Out of Lena Horne TV Movie
Tue Feb 24, 5:39 PM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A planned ABC television movie about the life of singing great Lena Horne (news) has become the latest casualty of Janet Jackson (news)'s breast-baring Super Bowl performance.


Jackson bowed out of the TV movie, and executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron quit in support of her, after Horne refused to go along with the project as long as Jackson remained cast to play her in the film, publicists for Jackson and the producers said on Tuesday.


"Janet is no longer part of the (project) because Lena didn't want her in it," Jackson spokesman Stephen Huvane told Reuters. "ABC and the producers were supporting Janet, and Janet realized this wasn't going to change, so she needed to bow out, and then the producers bowed out with her."


There was no comment about the flap from ABC, but a spokesman for the Walt Disney Co.-owned network confirmed that the TV movie was currently "in limbo."


Neither Horne, 86, nor her representatives were immediately available for comment. But the veteran entertainer, who helped break Hollywood racial barriers in the 1940s and is best known for her hit "Stormy Weather," was widely reported to have been offended by Jackson's duet with pop idol Justin Timberlake (news) during the Feb. 1 Super Bowl half-time show. Their performance notoriously ended with Timberlake ripping open Jackson's costume to expose her right breast on live national TV.


CBS, which aired the Super Bowl telecast, and sister cable channel MTV, which produced the half-time show and promoted the event by promising a "shocking" moment, apologized for the incident, saying the brief flash of nudity was not planned.


Jackson, 37, later said the "costume reveal" was a last-minute idea on her part but went further than she intended. She subsequently was barred from the Grammy Awards telecast, rebuffing CBS demands that she issue an on-air apology as a condition for appearing on that show.


The "Lena" project was seen as a key bid to reinvigorate the acting career of Jackson, whose previous credits include TV roles on the series "Good Times," "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Fame." Her latest album, "Damita Jo," is due out March 30.


A source close to the situation told Reuters that Horne ultimately refused to further cooperate with the movie unless Jackson was replaced, but that ABC stood by Jackson.


The standoff ended when Jackson withdrew from the project, with Zadan and Meron, who also produced the controversial TV movie about former President Ronald Reagan (news), following suit.


In a separate development, ABC said on Tuesday that Timberlake had bowed out of plans to co-host the network's upcoming Motown 45th anniversary special due to a scheduling conflict posed by the production of his first motion picture.


A network spokeswoman acknowledged that Timberlake's decision coincided with growing protests over his participation in the show from a coalition of black organizations but said his move was precipitated strictly by his movie commitment.


http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/S...07734rt6m7.jpg

Pic from Nutty Professor 2 premiere
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.../nuttypre1.jpg

One person that comes to mind is actress Cynda Williams. The last time I saw her in a film was in a lifetime movie featuring Vanessa L. Williams. Of course, I also like Thandi Newton and Carmen Ejogo.

Another thought is that perhaps a great deal can be done with stage make-up if the skin-tone of the actress is an issue. Look at how much they lightened Halle Berry's skin for her portrayal of Queen in Alex Haley's film. I would like to see an unknown actress get a break by portraying Lena Horn.

I think Vanessa Williams would be perfect. Either her or an unknown.

On another board
 

One of the posters said she was concerned that Jennifer Beals could be considered for the part. I would prefer Michael Michele if you're talking biracial actresses.

Ladygreek, Jada is almost 10 years younger than Jasmine so it makes sense to me that Jada looks younger. Apparently Jasmine was born in 64 and Jada in 71.


SC

Re: On another board
 

Is Lena Horne biracial?
SC

Re: Re: On another board
 

Nope. The only reason why I speculated on the biracial issue is because somebody on another board mentioned Jennifer Beals, who is biracial. BTW, I don't think JB would make a good Lena Horne.

Soror, this is true, but as ladygreek said, Jasmine really hasn't aged very well. The pic that CT4 posted is actually a good pic - it doesn't show her "aging" much.

Try this link - hopefully you'll see what we're talking about.

Ok, JG looks a little hard because her head is tilted at an angle or maybe she was making a facial expression, but yall had me thinking she had "hunchback-like" qualities. I thought she looked alrright.

In the pic CT4 posted, she looks like she needs a steak or two, but other than that...

Phrat, I'm sorry - sistahgal looking a little wrankled! That's not from tilting her head or facial expression.

I realize it's been 10 years and then some since we saw her in "A Different World", and yes, we expect to see her age some, but she's on the accelerated fast track!

And yes, she could use some garlic bread and a loaded potato with those steaks!

I gotta admit, Jasmine Guy did look a lil' old there. Oh well.

...whew, I always thought guys were harsher (and, I'll admit, more immature) in our assessment of women, but yall are straight up COLD!!! the claws is out!!

LOL-That's only a seven year difference. I am five years older than my sister and I look younger. So, that wouldn't make that much of a difference, but Jasmine looks much older.

I have also noticed how much heavier her eye makeup has become when she is in a movie or TV show. That's an indication, too.

She looks as if she as if she has lost weight. I saw her on a show a little while back and she had packed on quite a few pounds.

I'm still going with an unknown to play Lena. ;) Oh and I think Lena is biracial once removed--if you know what I mean.

Does anyone think Ms. Horne is being a tad bit unreasonable concerning her reaction and decision of refusing to cooperate if Janet Jackson represents her?

I'll admit Jasmine hasn't aged that well ....but she'll be on TV and the cameras can make her look 20 if necessary

What about Troy Beyer on Victoria Rowell? I'm sure they can lighten Victoria for the role and she is a very pretty actress