Fantasia Barrino, 'American Idol' Winner, Gaining 30-45 Pounds For Movie

Fantasia Barrino has had her problems over the past year, but unintentional weight gain is not one of them.

The "American Idol" winner has been seen with extra pounds of late, but she says it's on purpose -- she's getting into character for a new movie, in which she'll star as gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

"In fact, she's just signed on to play the lead in Mahalia and has been told to gain 30 to 45 pounds for the role," her rep told RadarOnline.com.

It's a welcomed turn of events for the singer, who had a summer filled with turmoil. She admitted to having an affair with a married -- though at the time, legally separated -- man, and the man's ex-wife accused her of both having a sex tape and breaking up her marriage for good.

Barrino denied breaking up the marriage, but the pressure of the publicity drove her to attempt suicide that same month.

The singer also admitted to having aborted her lover's baby.

For more on the film, as well as so much more from Fantasia, click over to RadarOnline.com.

Comments

[Bigfoot62]

06:19 AM on 02/10/2011

How can anyone tell she is gaining 30 - 40 pounds for her role; she has always been chunky.

[greyK]

07:55 AM on 02/16/2011

no she hasn't. you're confusing her with Jennifer Hudson's OLD body type.

[emperance]

12:55 AM on 02/10/2011

There are just NO WORDS.

[inkhosi]

11:16 PM on 02/09/2011

Uh-oh. Precious 2...coming to a theatre near you.

[Duppy]

08:49 PM on 02/09/2011

Good for her

[RusStyles]

07:26 PM on 02/09/2011

At least they didn't choose Halle Drama....

[Roscheblue]

07:07 PM on 02/09/2011

I thought Kelly Price was supposed to play Mahalia. BTW Huff Po, Mahalia Jackson was a gospel singer....not a soul singer.

[Balzac]

06:29 PM on 02/09/2011

She shouldn't have to gain any more weight for that role. If Hally Berry can play Aretha Franklin, Fantasia can play Mahalia Jackson as is.

I want to see Fantasia get slender again. She's got a slammin' body when she stays fit. She really ought to go the the other direction and start wearing short skirts.

[mypov123]

07:18 PM on 02/09/2011

I think Halle Berry was supposed to portray Aretha during the early years of her career, and she was pretty slender back then.

[Balzac]

10:09 PM on 02/09/2011

I've seen pictures and video of young Aretha Franklin. She was still a bit thicker than Halle Berry is, but Halle Berry can plausibly fill the role for her early years.

[magnoliabird]

11:54 PM on 02/09/2011

Jennifer Hudson is being considered for the role of Aretha Franklin. That will be a good movie if she gets it. Jennifer is an awesome actress. That was proven with her very first film. Beyonce was supposed to be the lead star but IMO Jennifer outshined and out-acted her hand over fist.

[SoccerNana]

05:49 PM on 02/09/2011

I hope this works out for her.

[VillageReader]

05:47 PM on 02/09/2011

According to Wikipedia~~ Mahalia Jackson was an African-American gospel singer and was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world, and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist; entertainer Harry Belafonte called her "the single most powerful black woman in the United States".

I read the article and this lady was amazing. Her childhood was full of strife and her accomplishments as an adult were ...wow. I am impressed.

Having wrote this... I don't believe Fantasia is the right person to portray her. Fantasia admitted to an affair with a married man (I don't care if he was allegedly 'separated'. Still married), and admitted to aborting a child from that affair.

Not the image I would like connected to such an amazing gospel singer as Mahalia Jackson.

[Peguy]

08:20 PM on 02/09/2011

You don't have to resemble the person in real life, you only have to be able to bring that character to life on the screen. It will be interesting to see if Fantasia can get close to the amazing vocal range of Mahalia, as well as to see if Fantasia has any real acting chops.

[dct1999]

05:22 PM on 02/09/2011

This is poor casting. I like Fantasia, but she is not the right person to play the beautiful, majestic woman Mahalia Jackson.

[lotus321]

05:38 PM on 02/09/2011

I agree with you 100%. It is even insulting

[Mrs Putrid Festring]

06:38 PM on 02/09/2011

just curious ... why is it insulting?

[mypov123]

07:04 PM on 02/09/2011

Agreed, their singing voices aren't at all similar.

[zLala]

04:03 PM on 02/09/2011

What an amazing amount of trashy hearsay in one article, well done!

[TUC7]

03:30 PM on 02/09/2011

Unless theres going to be a nude scene I suggest she get with Tyler Perry and have a weight suit made. Gaining 30 - 40 pounds is just suicidal when you're fighting a weight problem in the first
place.

[Panasit Ch]

02:59 PM on 02/09/2011

First it's unintentional then it's on purpose?

[Abby1]

02:59 PM on 02/09/2011

I hope she has taken some acting lessons. When I saw her movie about her life, in which she starred in, I was not impressed. Hopefully, her acting abilities have improved tremendously.

[bigdaveh]

02:50 PM on 02/09/2011

Hmmm, maybe not the role she was looking for but the role she needs to be able to pack on the weight since she's a depressed, philandering, pathetically weak singer.

[jusathot]

11:16 PM on 02/09/2011

Tell us how you really feel about her, please.