QUEEN LATIFAH NEWS, INTERVIEWS & UPDATES



News for 3/3/2003


Latifah Says Oscar Nomination Is a Win for Hip-Hop

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It is a Hollywood cliche, but for "Chicago" star Queen Latifah, the saying rings true: just being nominated for an Oscar made her a winner.

Not just her, but, in her opinion, the nomination in the best supporting actress category was good for the whole of hip-hop music and all entertainers who cross over from one arena to another.

"I felt like doors opened for the future. That maybe the rappers-turned-actors who really have talent and put work into the craft ... can make a serious career of it because it's been done. The precedent has been set," Latifah told Reuters.

Her next film, comedy "Bringing Down the House," in which she co-stars with wild-and-crazy guy Steve Martin, debuts on Friday.

The Academy Awards on March 23 are the final stop on what has been a long trip for the singer-turned-actress who portrays the wheeling, dealing prison matron Mama Morton in the smash hit movie musical "Chicago."

Latifah is not the favorite to win the supporting actress honor, and she knows it. Oscar watchers give the nod to any of the four other nominees, "Chicago" co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kathy Bates in "About Schmidt," Meryl Streep for "Adaptation" or Julianne Moore in "The Hours."

"This thing could go any way, and I'm one of the rookies," she said.

The actress, whose real name is Dana Owens, said that on Oscar nomination morning, she arrived home from a brief concert tour and was fast asleep when she got the call telling her of her nomination. She had to stop and think, "What nomination?"

HIP HOP HELP


That is Latifah, who is quick to think of others. She says that her "team," which includes manager and business partner Sha-kim Compere, deserve as much credit for her success as she. "I've had a lot of help and support to be able to go out and do what I do," Latifah said.

When diamond merchant DeBeers asked her to wear a diamond necklace to the Golden Globe awards, she agreed, but only if DeBeers made a substantial charitable contribution.

That style is the opposite of her role as Matron Mama Morton, who trades favors for cash in "Chicago."

But in "Bringing Down the House," fans get to see more of Latifah the way Latifah really is: hamming it up, helping people out and being smart about it.

She plays Charlene Morton, a wrongly imprisoned woman who strikes up an online friendship with divorced tax attorney Peter Sanderson, who is portrayed by Steve Martin.

When Charlene gets out of prison, she looks up Sanderson to help her appeal her conviction. When he balks at the idea, she invades his house, his life and his family's business knowing that a street-wise home girl like herself could embarrass a straight-laced white guy like Sanderson into submission.

Charlene's plan eventually works, and Sanderson learns how to live more joyfully and give his family more attention.

Of course, it all comes with a lot of jokes.

KEEPING IT REAL


Latifah earned an executive producer credit by helping the film's makers make the movie more authentic in its language and portrayal of the culture clash between black and white America.

Latifah is no slouch in the brain department. Early in her hip-hop days, she started her own label with Compere to promote and manage artists. She has not only appeared in movies and on television but for awhile had her own talk show.

One slip-up was a November arrest on drunk driving charges. Latifah pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of reckless driving and was put on probation for three years, ordered to pay a $300 fine and attend an alcohol education program. In a statement, Latifah said she "took full responsibility" for her actions.

With all the Oscar talk, fans might think that she would be taking on more roles now, but Latifah's thinking is just the opposite. She knows that over-exposure can be bad for celebrity, so Latifah is slowing down.

"It may sound weird, but I take a step back. The table is full of scripts and story pitches and ideas and jobs. So, now I have to be more selective," she said

"That is, to me, where people probably go wrong because now they get caught up in the hype. I'm blessed and I'm thankful, but I'm humble," she said. "(I) keep opening doors for other people. I can produce; I don't necessarily have to star."



With Oscar nod, Queen Latifah draws a royal flush

By Cindy Pearlman

LOS ANGELES--Maybe she experienced a bit of a royal flush. That's the only way to explain Queen Latifah's reaction to being nominated for an Oscar.

"I'm just so excited. In fact, the day of the nominations, all I could do is run through my house naked and screaming," she said.

Matron Mama Morton of "Chicago" in the buff? Hey, this isn't "Oz."

"I hope those photos don't make the Enquirer!" Queen Latifah said, laughing.

Actually, she's hoping that her photo is snapped quite a few times holding a little gold statue on March 23.

"After what Halle [Berry] and Denzel [Washington] accomplished last year [by winning best actress and actor Oscars], part of me does think I have a fighting chance to win an Oscar one of these days. With a wicked laugh, she added, "Keep your fingers crossed for old Mama!"

Already, it's been a pretty good year for the rapper and talk-show host turned actress who held court on a sunny winter morning in her suite at the Essex House Hotel here. Shy, sweet and soft-spoken, it's a far different Latifah than the larger-than-life woman in her new movie, "Bringing Down the House," opening Friday. She produced and stars opposite Steve Martin in the comedy.

"Steve is a Connecticut blue blood who meets a woman in a chat room. He believes that I'm a lawyer," Latifah said. "Then, I show up at the door, and I'm a convict who actually needs him to help clear her name.

"Steve's character is all uptight and conservative, and I help to loosen him up a bit. Meanwhile, Eugene Levy is in the film, and he plays a man with a huge crush on me. I think he likes my thickness."

She cackled at the question of whether they have love scenes.

"Oh, baby, not a love scene, but it's real funny," she said.

The Queen is laughing all the way to the bank because there's nothing she can't do these days, including the feat of elbowing aside Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna and Bette Midler for the role of Mama Morton in "Chicago."

"I didn't want anything handed to me on a silver platter. I wanted to work for this role, and there were many times when I didn't think I'd get it," she admitted. "I just kept going back, hoping and praying."

Is there a hint of Mama Morton in her?

"Oh, yeah," she said. "There's a lot of me in my Mama. My Mama is confident, she loves her body and she ain't shy about nothing.

"I'm not a greedy opportunist the way that she is. But I certainly like running the show," she said.

Queen Latifah is becoming quite the entertainment powerhouse these days. On the music front, she has a new album, "First Love," due out in April, and her greatest hits CD was recently released, too. "I'll never give up the music, because that's my heart," she said. "That's my blood."

She was born Dana Owens and grew up in a family of police officers in middle class Irvington, N.J. Even as a child, she knew that the name Dana didn't quite cover her personality.

"All the kids in my neighborhood hated the names our parents gave us," she said. "One day, I was reading a book of Arabic names and I stumbled upon the word 'Latifah.' The description of this word was beautiful. It meant, 'delicate and sensitive on the inside.' It was a perfect way to describe me."

The Delicate One always liked to rap, but the teenager working behind the counter at Burger King never expected it to turn into a career.

"I was just another kid who started by rapping in her basement, and the tape got passed to somebody at Tommy Boy Records. I was busy just being a kid, and then I got a call saying, 'You got a record deal.'

"I said, 'I'm with it. I'll try it.'"

Her first single came out when she was only 17, and her first album, "Wrath of My Madness," was released in 1988. In addition to winning a Grammy Award, the disc "Black Reign" earned her the distinction of being the first female solo rap artist to achieve a gold record.

At the height of her early fame, Latifah also had to cope with several tragedies, including the death of her brother, a police officer who died in a motorcycle accident in 1992. She still wears the key to his motorcycle around her neck.

"I just felt completely betrayed by life, and totally lost. It was definitely the hardest time in my entire life because I didn't know how to heal. Now, I realize that it really does take time to get to the other side of tragedy. For me, the solution was in prayer and reminding myself that I was a fearless woman who had to push on."

There were other well-publicized incidents. She was arrested late last year on charges of drunken driving, but the case was dropped. A few years ago, her BMW was stolen at gunpoint in Harlem. Her friend Shawn Moon was shot in the stomach on the streets and almost died in her arms. She drove him to the hospital, which saved his life.

"I had to keep reminding him on the ride that it was his job to live," she said. "That's all we can do these days is hang on and try to live."

Her movie career came to life with "Jungle Fever" (1991), follwed by "House Party 2" (1991), "Juice" (1992), "Set It Off" (1996), "Living Out Loud" (1998), "The Bone Collector" (1999) and "Brown Sugar" (2002). She recently inked a deal with CBS for her own series called "Maly Anderson," which she dubs " 'Shaft' meets 'Murder She Wrote' set in Harlem.' "

But first, there's Oscar night. "To be honest, I think it's too early in my career to really be thinking about Oscar," she admitted. "Of course, I think I did some good work in 'Chicago,' but I don't think everybody in Hollywood knows who I am. Just getting nominated was the thrill of a lifetime, but maybe I'll hear my name."

It will be the culmination of a childhood dream.

"I think everyone who has ever watched the glamor and excitement of the Oscars has always wanted to walk up onstage, grab one and go, 'This is for you, Mom!' That's what I will do if I win,' " she said, laughing.



News for 2/12/2003

Latifah Is Lone Black Acting Nominee


Don't expect another landmark year of Oscar wins for black actors.

While last year's lead performer victories by Halle Berry and Denzel Washington were hailed by Hollywood as a breakthrough for minorities, the lone black performer to get a nomination Tuesday was Queen Latifah for her supporting role in "Chicago."

"You know, it's always going to be a fight," said Latifah, who plays Mama Morton, a manipulative prison matron in the musical. "I feel honored to represent for my folks. ... I'm glad (the voters) opened their eyes just a little bit."

She said she hoped the entertainment industry as a whole becomes more accessible to people of color.

"The more diversity in the body who does the voting the more you'll see other not just African-Americans but Asians and American Indians and Hispanic people, Middle Eastern or whatever it may be," she said.

"Chicago," adapted from the 1970s Broadway hit, led Academy Award contenders with 13 nominations, including best picture and best actress for Renee Zellweger. Latifah is up against co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones in the supporting actress category.

Critics regarded 2002 as a generally good year for black cinema.

Berry, who won best actress for "Monster's Ball," had an interracial romance with James Bond in "Die Another Day," while Washington, who won best actor for "Training Day," costarred and made his directorial debut with the abuse saga "Antwone Fisher."

Other successful films with black stars included "Barbershop," "Drumline" and "Brown Sugar."



News for 1/1/2003


By Cindy Pearlman

It's good to be Queen. Queen Latifah says she feels a bit of a royal flush after being nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the movie musical "Chicago."

"I feel like I'm living in a dream. Don't even say the 'O' word to me," she says of all the kudos and Oscar talk (sorry, Queen) over her performance as Mama, the money hungry, low-cut-dress-wearing prison warden extraordinaire.

Latifah almost got locked out of the role. Ten other major names, including Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna, were angling for it.

"It took three auditions, but I would have done 10. There was no shame in it because I wanted to earn this and not muscle it."

It took Latifah belting the show-stopping (and now movie-stopping song) "When You're Good to Mama" to win the role.

"I added a little funk to it, which rocked the house," she says.

Latifah is becoming quite the entertainment powerhouse these days. She has a new album due out next April, plus her greatest-hits CD came out last week, with two new cuts, including "She's the Queen." "I can't believe I've been doing this long enough to have a greatest-hits CD," she admits.

Her first single came out when she was only 17, and her first album was released in 1988. "I was just another kid who started by rapping in her basement, and the tape got passed to somebody at Tommy Boy Records. I was busy just being a kid, and then I got a call saying, 'You got a record deal.' I said, 'I'm with it. I'll try it.' "

Latifah also has her own film production company and stars in and executive produced "Bringing Down the House," in which she teams with Steve Martin. "Steve is a Connecticut blue blood who meets a woman he thinks is a law-yer in a chat room," she says of the planned spring release. "Then I show up at the door. I'm a convict who needs him to clear her name. He's so tight and conservative and she loosens him up. Eugene Levy is in it and he has a crush on me. He likes the thickness."

Do they have love scenes? "Oh, baby, not a love scene, but it's funny," she cackles.

Latifah has also inked a deal with CBS for her own series, "Maly Anderson." "It's kind of like 'Shaft' meets 'Murder She Wrote,' set in Harlem," she says. "I want it to be kind of edgy. She doesn't solve everything with a gun. She's more like a happenin' Nancy Drew who solves it with her mind."

Latifah says she doesn't mind that her daily talk show got the ax after two years on the air. "I got to help a lot of people," she says, "but it did take a lot out of me. Plus, talk shows can ruin your own damn relationships because you don't want to hear sh-- when you get home. I'd yell, 'I don't want to talk. I've been talking all day.' "

She says the show's finest moment came when she helped an unpopular teenage girl. "My favorite show was about this big girl named Carmen who was 16. All the other kids teased her and called her every name in the book. Her confidence was shot and she dropped out. I told her when she was ready to go back to school, I'd walk in there with her."

The Queen doesn't make empty promises. "I went down to South Carolina and walked her back into her school and no one said a word. I also made it known if there was any trouble I'd be back. Carmen did so well that she ended up losing the weight at a camp and came back all bubbly and confident. Later on, she helped other big kids who were on the show who were going through the same thing. Now, that was cool."

The Queen should know.



News for 9/27/2002


Mystery woman: Queen Latifah sleuths for CBS


LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Queen Latifah is returning to primetime television.

The versatile actress and recording artist has signed a deal with CBS to develop and star in "Mali Anderson," a drama series project based on Grace F. Edwards' popular "Mali Anderson Mystery" series of books.

In "Mali Anderson," Latifah will play the title character -- a former New York police detective who works as a private investigator out of her dad's apartment in the Strivers Row section of Harlem, N.Y., and takes care of her nephew, whose parents died in a skiing accident.

Queen Latifah is also executive producing the project with Lawrence Bender and Kevin Brown. Queen Latifah's production company Flavor Unit and Bender and Brown's Bender-Brown Prods. are producing.

Negotiations are under way for Tina Andrews (CBS' "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis") to write the script and for Warner Bros. Television to come on board as part of the studio's first-look deal with Bender and Brown.

When all deals are finalized, the project is expected to be a co-production between WBTV and CBS Prods.

If the project goes to series, it will be a rare broadcast network drama centering on a black female character.

"We look at this as an opportunity to do an extraordinary television series with an extraordinary, unique talent in Queen Latifah, who has such broad appeal because of her acting and her music," Brown said.

Bender and Brown were bidding on the rights to the "Mali Anderson" books when they realized the person they were bidding against was Queen Latifah, a big fan of the novels. The three partnered together and took the project to CBS.

Queen Latifah's producing partner/manager Shakim Compere will serve as a producer.

In primetime, Queen Latifah most recently toplined the Fox comedy "Living Single." "Mali Anderson" extends her relationship with CBS. Last season, she starred in the network's hit miniseries "Leaving With the Dead."

On the big screen, Queen Latifah will next be seen in "Brown Sugar." She also stars in the upcoming feature version of the musical "Chicago" and the comedy "In the Houze," which she is executive producing.

Andrews won a Writers Guild of America Award for penning CBS' 2000 telefilm "Sally Hemings: An American Scandal." Her writing credits also include the 1998 feature "Why Do Fools Fall in Love."

Latifah and Andrews are repped by WMA.

Brown previously optioned the rights to the series of books on which the WB Network/UPN drama "Roswell" was based and was an executive producer on the show.

Bender was nominated for an Oscar for his producing duties on "Good Will Hunting" and "Pulp Fiction."

This past development season, Bender and Brown were executive producers on WBTV's pilot "Lost in Oz" for the WB Network and ABC's telefilm/backdoor pilot "Nancy Drew," scheduled to air Oct. 20.