Aretha Franklin Begs Halle Berry To Play Her In Biopic

Maybe if she sings her a song?

When Aretha Franklin announced earlier in January that a film about her life was finally geting made, she asserted that Halle Berry would be playing lead. On Golden Globes Sunday, Berry said she didn't have the vocal chops to do the role justice -- but that's not stopping Franklin from wanting her for the role.

Franklin wrote in to the Wendy Williams Show on Monday, the site of her original announcement, to appeal to Berry to reconsider. Williams read the note aloud, which said, "Many actors have portrayed vocalists by lip-synching to the artist's original recordings," Franklin wrote.

Berry has yet to respond, though HuffPost Blogger Morris O'Kelly thinks that she is, in fact, perfect for the part.

Comments

[Bob Kellerman]

04:47 PM on 02/02/2011

Halle was raised by her White, English-born Mom, Aretha in her Dad's Black church. Their entire demeanor and thinking do not seem very much alike to me. (and I have seen Aretha young and heavy, youngish and slim, own all the records)
I hate to be the White Guy saying Aretha has *S*O*U*L* and Halle, not so much.
THAT is the problem in the potential portrayal -- can quiet Halle go that far out???

Could Gregory Peck play Jerry Lewis?

[thegoodspeed]

03:06 PM on 01/31/2011

well, i think berry is right.... it should be sung and not lip-synched. real singing made the doors & johnny cash movies much better to watch even though they were portraying strong vocal personalities and the actors weren't known to be singers- yet carried it off really well... get an actress who can sing.

also, um, franklin wanting berry to play her seems 'not right' in the esthetics department. franklin has NEVER looked like berry or vice versa. let's be a little more realistic here if the movie is going to be any good... cuz that is just delusional.

[Jayne Turner]

12:15 PM on 01/27/2011

why not jennifer hudson? or the other woman that won american idol. Halle is not the only game in town.

[Prince Toddy English]

05:24 PM on 01/28/2011

This is a more ego driven decision on Franklin's behalf. She just wants Halle for the beauty factor. Sad.

[daisydukes]

02:18 AM on 01/27/2011

This is a good opportunity for a young star in the making to get a shot at being an actress. Love Halle Berry but we need some new blood in Hollywood. It needs to be someone who can belt out a tune like Aretha.

[veritas88]

11:00 PM on 01/26/2011

I personally think it makes no sense to have Halle Berry play Aretha, but if Halle truly believes she is a great actress then she should see this as a great challenge, and undertake it.

[wilray]

06:44 PM on 01/26/2011

I have been a little flippant, but I think it's time for a reality check. Halle Berry's original answer may have been politic. If Halle is smart she knows that Aretha's most ardent fans will be her harshest critics. I have been a fan of Aretha's for as long as I can remember. However, I am not a member of the Cult of Aretha. There are Aretha fans who accept absolutely no criticism of Aretha and even lose their sense of humor regarding all things Aretha. I am not one of those people. Only because Aretha made the appeal is Halle even remotely acceptable to the Cult of Aretha. Had Halle insinuated herself into the role without Aretha's prior endorsement, the Cult of Aretha would have immediately rejected her, and rebuked her audacity.

Finally, if this project goes south because of bad casting, Aretha and Halle will be subjected to ridicule. Obviously, the Cult of Aretha will skewer Halle. White comedians may hold back. However, I guarantee that Black comedians will have a field day, with no holds barred for Aretha or Halle.

[emperance]

07:02 PM on 01/26/2011

{HFinally, if this project goes south because of bad casting, Aretha and Halle will be subjected to ridicule......However, I guarantee that Black comedians will have a field day, with no holds barred for Aretha or Halle.}


And BOTH will be deserving.
Can't wait for Paul Mooney to chop it up (should it happen)!!!!!
Laughing.......even now.

[wilray]

07:15 PM on 01/26/2011

I youtubed Paul Mooney and Aretha. I see what you mean. He is really raw, but funny.

[AQueenArethaFan]

06:18 PM on 01/26/2011

Let's face it NO one on planet earth can saang like Queen Aretha. Whoever portrays Aretha will HAVE to lip sync period. Case Closed.

Check out the pic below of a young & slim Aretha rehearsing for an upcoming show with famed choreographer Cholly Atkins.

Aretha at size 6!
http://concreteloop.com/2010/02/black-history-throwback-photos-aretha-franklin-in-the-early-60s

[Arkanoid]

06:39 PM on 01/26/2011

Hmmmm, I see a little Sacha Fierce in Aretha!

[mypov123]

09:46 PM on 01/27/2011

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=VPL55xiw8­mM

Maybe? lol

[RobinL]

06:08 PM on 01/26/2011

Who wouldn't want Halle Berry to play them? I'm short, white and old and I'd love it!

[wilray]

06:45 PM on 01/26/2011

I wish she would play me, and I'm a dood.

[emperance]

07:05 PM on 01/26/2011

I wouldn't.

If I had to pick, I'd like Gabriele Union, Kenya Moore, Charlize Theron, or Stacey Dash to play me.

[wilray]

07:43 PM on 01/26/2011

Boy you sure have me Googleing. I didn't know who Ms Moore or Ms Dash were. All very attractive ladies. I recognized Dash's face once I Googled her. But I didn't remember her as having that much bump to her rump. Yowza!! Is that real or Photoshop?

http://ecdysiast12.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/stacey-dash-1.jpg

[wilray]

07:43 PM on 01/26/2011

I almost forgot. You are fanned.

[Arkanoid]

06:05 PM on 01/26/2011

Ms. Franklin, your first choice should be Mary J. Blige and your last choice should be Halle Berry..just staying, Ms. Blige can sing and she can sing like you from time to time.

[Dion Tillmon]

06:13 PM on 01/26/2011

You're right she should get someone with musical talent but Jennifer Hudson should be the right choice.

[emperance]

07:06 PM on 01/26/2011

Mary does have that same SOUL sound in her tone - interesting.

But, I'm sticking with TONI BRAXTON.

[mypov123]

07:46 PM on 01/26/2011

Noooo not Toni. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Toni fan, but her voice is too low. Based on voice alone, Jennifer Hudson and Faith Evans are two singers that come to mind, their voices are more similar to Aretha's imo.

[Russ Noe]

06:04 PM on 01/26/2011

I am glad Aretha is a (great) singer and not a casting agent. She couldn't be more off of the mark wanting Halle to play her. Jennifer Hudson seems like the perfect look, fit and sound to play the younger Queen of Soul.

[AsianGoddesswithBrains2]

06:04 PM on 01/26/2011

What about Queen Latifah. That might be a role for her!

[wilray]

05:50 PM on 01/26/2011

Perhaps, it makes sense for Halle to play Aretha. Aretha is the Queen of Soul, and Halle has played a Black Queen before as Alex Haley's "Queen." Of course, Ru Paul has also portrayed a Black queen, and Ru Paul can sing. I don't know if Halle can sing.

[luv ya]

05:45 PM on 01/26/2011

Aretha stop being delusional. Halle is a beautiful black woman, but, that's as far as it goes. As far as playing you, think more of a Jennifer Hudson or a lip-synching Monique. They would be a more believable you.

[Arkanoid]

06:04 PM on 01/26/2011

I agree with the Jennifer Hudson role...for that matter, even Mary J. Blige could play the part believable as she can imitate Aretha's singing style much better than anyone else currently..

[Paul Conrad]

05:08 PM on 01/26/2011

The best fit to play Aretha is the crew of folks that were inside the Jaba the Hutt costume in Return of the Jedi.

[delsueno]

05:35 PM on 01/26/2011

Oh no you did-ent! Just kidding - nice one.

[abustig]

05:39 PM on 01/26/2011

That's not funny at all.

[jawobble]

02:00 PM on 01/27/2011

lame, dull, not witty at all. you lose...

[Paul Conrad]

04:01 PM on 01/27/2011

At least you spelled all the words correctly this time, dopey.

[AfroGoddess]

04:55 PM on 01/26/2011

Somebody needs to tell Aretha the truth! Halle is trying to be nice about it by saying she can't sing. Her bad singing isn't the issue.

AREEETHA! Halle is light skinned and you are dark skinned. You have a big nose and she has a small one. Your body types are completely different. No one would believe that Halle is a young version of you.

PLEASE STOP! Don't be a delusional diva! Just because you always wanted to be a LSLH (light skinned with long hair) does not mean that one of them can play you in a film!

Get yourself Fantasia Barino or some unknown singer with a similar body type.

[ThePeacemakers]

05:10 PM on 01/26/2011

Really? With a wig, makeup, and add a few pounds, you wouldn't watch Alicia Keyes in the role?

[sfstewart]

05:10 PM on 01/26/2011

Aretha used to be a lot thinner, and this is a bio about her earlier life. As for nose, technically the nose that Halle is rocking isn't the nose she was born with, and if Nicole Kidman can wear a fake nose to play Virginia Woolf, than Halle could wear something as well. Not that she has too. It is acting, and does take a bit of disbelief anyway.