Queen Latifah Gets Nude In New HBO Film

Queen Latifah has finally decided that the time is right to make her nude debut in the upcoming HBO biopic Bessie. It's one of those scenes biopics love, where to demonstrate how emotionally naked a moment is, the character is also physically naked. Let's all hope she collects some awards for this before King Latifah returns to collect her.

For several slow-burning, agonizing moments, Queen Latifah sits stark naked. Drenched in stillness, her 5-foot-10-inch frame settles, mostly without obstruction, forcing your senses to entirely digest these on-screen minutes unhurried. It’s an unfiltered scene, not offensive or vulgar, but calm and altogether empty and melancholic. Unpacking unseen weight of fame and personal devastation, the multifaceted entertainer peels off her gaudy jewels along with her stewing emotions – fully committed to creating the most powerful scene of HBO’s anticipated Bessie – a biopic of blues icon Bessie Smith. “I’ve never done that before,” the newly-turned 45-year-old, born Dana Owens, says as she drives up the California hills toward back-to-back meetings. “It was a little odd but it was also a quiet, relaxing thing. Sometimes she was so alone, and it was a moment for Bessie to acknowledge her vulnerability, which I can completely relate to. When you get to strip it all down and have a moment to yourself, sometimes the world comes crashing down in that little moment, or maybe it’s a moment of peace.”

“I don’t find [this nude scene] any more uncomfortable than kissing a girl in Set It Off and sticking to the script. You have to take your mind off of yourself and honor that character. Respect Cleo, respect Bessie.”

For those interested, that's Tika Sumpter who can be seen kissing and getting groped by Queen Latifah in the trailer. Also glimpsed in the trailer is Omar from The Wire, who gets the trailer's biggest laugh when they clearly replace him saying "What the fuck?" with "What the heck?" It's awesome, check it out at the 41 second mark. Bessie premieres on HBO Saturday May 16.