Mary J. Blige Shares Dream Of Playing Nina Simone In Biopic

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Mary J. Blige has succeeded in multiple television and film roles, however there is one specific story she has her eyes on. As a guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the 52-year-old artist expressed her desire to star in a Nina Simone biopic.

“I always wanted to play Nina Simone,” expressed the New York native.

More from VIBE.com

“I want to learn how to play the piano,” she continued. “I love her songs. They are very dark and moody and I can always find a place for that. So yeah, I definitely want to play her.”

Mary J. Blige with her hair pulled back,.
Mary J. Blige with her hair pulled back,.

Related Story

Mary J. Blige Lands Talk Show As Part Of First-Look Deal With BET

According to Rated RnB, as early as 2006, the My Life singer was set to portray Nina Simone, however as years passed, budget issues and delays shifted the project. Zoe Saldana ultimately starred in the 2016 film Nina. In 2020, the actress expressed regret for taking the role.

Elsewhere in the conversation with Colbert, the Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul spoke to the nationally recognized 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, expressing how the culture has changed the world.

Mary J. Blige and Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Mary J. Blige during Tuesday’s March 28 2023 show

“I think it’s been amazing because Hip Hop has given our culture a voice,” expressed the Grammy Award-winning perfomer. “It’s given everybody a voice and a place to speak their truth to. From JAY-Z to Nas to Biggie, they’re all speaking their truth through music, from Rakim to KRS-One.”

“Everybody is speaking what they’ve lived and what they’ve done through their music and it’s given them some sort of therapy, and that’s what Hip Hop has done and I hope it continues to do that and I hope it stays around for a long time because the new generations are doing the exact same thing.”

Watch the conversation above.

Click here to read the full article.