AUNJANUE ELLIS NEWS, INTERVIEWS & UPDATES



News for 10/29/2004


McComb native lands role in Ray Charles biopic

KAREN FREEMAN
Associated Press


McCOMB, Miss. - McComb native Aunjanue Ellis might not be a household name, but the actress has some quality screen time in the upcoming Ray Charles biopic, "Ray."

Ellis, 35, portrays Mary Ann Fisher, one of the Raeletts who sang backup for the pioneering musician. The movie, filmed largely in Louisiana, stars Jamie Foxx in the title role.

Ellis, a 1987 graduate of South Pike High School, is the daughter of Jacqueline Taylor of McComb. She was back home recently for a visit and gave an interview for Universal, which is releasing the movie on Friday.

Her mother and 23-year-old sister, Sasha, accompanied her to the interview.

Taylor said she found her daughter's name in a magazine and said Aunjanue means "witty girl."

One of Ellis' mentors, Geneva Patterson of Magnolia, believes the actress lives up to her name.

"She was a superb student, excellent all the way," Patterson said of Ellis. "She's a go-getter and determined. I always encouraged her, saying, 'You can do it if you set your mind to it.'"

Patterson said Ellis is like a member of her family.

"When I lost my son, she was on the living room floor with me consoling me. She was the type who when I went back to work, patted me on the shoulder, saying it would be OK," Patterson said.

"I'm not surprised at all at her success. We expected it," Patterson said. "Aunjanue wrote plays when she was young. I knew one day that she was going to do this. ... I'm so proud of her. We're all proud of her."

Ellis recalled those early drama roles, some performed in church at New Home Missionary Baptist in Magnolia.

"Everybody was trained to do public speeches. You had to do it," she said.

Former South Pike drama and speech teacher Suzanne Case called Ellis "one of the most talented people I ever taught, and I had some real outstanding students."

"She seemed to know exactly what she wanted to do and was so gifted that she could accomplish it with very little effort," Case said.

Case recalled that Ellis and four other classmates were very close.

"Each one was gifted in different areas - choral, piano, drama. They pushed each other and encouraged each other to excel in the fine arts," Case said.

But there was something else that propelled Ellis, Case said.

"Aunjanue had a little air about her that you knew that nobody was going to be able to discourage her," Case said.

Case said Ellis got her flair for fashion and the dramatic from her mother and from her aunt, Ola Mae Tucker, who had a dress shop.

Case, too, was sure that Ellis was going to make a name for herself.

"I took her up to Jackson State (for drama), and she blew them away. Everybody knew she would make it. She just had it all - looks and everything else."

Ellis said acting was never her dream, but rather something she fell into. Her passion was politics.

"I always had an interest in politics and political activism," Ellis said. "It's always been important to me."

She traced her acting start to Tougaloo College, where she was a student. It was there that she met James Barnhill, a professor of theater at Brown University in Providence, R.I. Barnhill persuaded Ellis to transfer to Brown. Ellis later earned a master's degree from New York University.

Her first acting job was a part in "The Tempest," part of "Shakespeare in the Park."

"Ray" is not Ellis' first film role. She debuted in "Girls Town" in 1996. Following that were roles in "Desert Blue," "The Opponent," "Men of Honor," "The Caveman's Valentine," "Undercover Brother" and "Lovely and Amazing."

On television, she starred in the short-lived drama "High Incident."

She also can be seen this year in "Brother to Brother," which is set to be released in November.

Ellis' role in "Ray," which she said wasn't actually a lot of screen time, gave her the opportunity to learn much about Charles, who died earlier this year. She said Mary Ann and other Raeletts were "not just voices in the back."

"He wrote a song called Mary Ann. She was a muse for him," Ellis said. "He loved women. His music was very personal. You understand a man's personal story. You hear American history."

Ellis said she was a late convert to Charles' music. The first time she really sat up and took notice was when the song "Night and Day" was featured on "The Cosby Show."

"I heard it and said, 'Who sings this song?' " Ellis said.

The actress agreed that many people may be surprised to see Foxx - known more for his comedic turns - becoming Ray Charles.

"Jamie was that guy. He was Ray Charles reincarnated," she said, adding that at times on set, she had to do a double-take to be sure it was actually Foxx on the set.

"It was really scary. He looked like Ray Charles. It was uncanny."

She described Foxx as "an incredible artist," noting that he is a classically trained pianist and singer.

Of director Taylor Hackford ("Proof of Life," "Dolores Claiborne," "The Devil's Advocate"), Ellis said, "He's a remarkable director and such a painter on film."

She said it was a challenging experience, and Hackford "expected a lot."

"This was not a high-paying experience. It is an independent film ... and a labor of love. I'm humbled by the commitment Jamie had," Ellis said. "People wanted to please both of them (Foxx and Hackford)."

Asked if she thought the film would contribute to Charles' legacy, Ellis said, "It is what it is, without this film ever being made. He is American history. His is a catalog of what makes American culture so great. Maybe it will bring a younger generation into the fold."

Ellis, who lives in New York, said she's not one to get caught up in the trappings of Hollywood and success.

"I think (my family) is proud and happy for me. They've definitely been on the journey with me," Ellis said. "They've seen the glorious and the not-so-glorious."

She said she's been able to stay grounded because of her family - including her late grandmother, Myrtis Taylor, who raised her.

"I think being Southern, particularly from a place so community, family and education-oriented, helped me and kept me from thinking I'm 'it.'"