Bessie

Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah (Chicago) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in this HBO Films presentation. Also starring Michael Kenneth Williams (12 Years a Slave) and Oscar® winner Mo'Nique (Precious), Bessie focuses on the transformation of a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful and influential recording artists of the 1920s. Capturing Bessie Smith's professional and personal highs and lows, the film paints a portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her demons, became a legend.