QUEEN LATIFAH: The Role of Her 'Life'

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Queen Latifah may have garnered an Academy Award nomination for her hearty role as Matron Mama Morton in the 2002 hit movie musical 'Chicago,' but hip-hop's Queen of Royal Badness may just capture the gold with her role in HBO's forthcoming movie 'Life Support.'

In the Nelson George-directed drama, Latifah (legally known as Dana Owens) portrays HIV-positive Ana Wallace, who channels her energy and regret over her past drug addiction into working for Life Support, an AIDS outreach group. She leads an all-star cast which includes Anna Deavere Smith, Wendell Pierce, Evan Ross, Darrin Dewitt Henson,Gloria Reuben, Tony Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross and newcomer Rachel Nicks.

George, a best-selling author, television writer and pop culture critic, got the idea to make a film inspired by his sister Andrea's life – about five years ago. "As I began doing more and more research for the film, I realized that this story was far larger than my own family and the film I started out to make," he said. "All of the amazing women I met at these support groups – this is their story. They are part of the group that accounts for 51% of new diagnoses, and some of the locations where we shot have some of the highest rates of infection in the country. I wanted to give a voice and a face to people who appear to be just statistics, but are far more than that."

Executive produced by Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and filmed in George's hometown of Brooklyn, New York, 'Life...' uses a mix of actors and real people from the HIV/AIDS community to tell the story.

Latifah, who just wrapped production of the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical 'Hairspray,' said the project appealed to her because she could relate to the story -- which is a moving and candid look at the African-American community's HIV crisis through the eyes of a survivor who is a mother, a former addict and an AIDS activist.

We've seen her in a wide array of roles since making her debut in Spike Lee's 'Jungle Fever' 16 years ago. Be it as the hard-core lesbian Cleo in 1996's 'Set It Off' or the daring and adventurous romantic in last year's 'Last Holiday,' the Newark, New Jersey native has always stood and delivered. In 'Life Support,' viewers will see Latifah like they've never seen her before.

"I spent a lot of time in Brooklyn during my teenage years, and I was very fortunate to come through that time period healthy, and to change my life and get back on course," she commented. "I can relate to the character of Ana in that respect."

George, who chronicled rap music in his last book 'Hip-Hop America,' believed that Latifah was the perfect choice to play his sister and represent the women he met with HIV. "[She] embodies the spirit these women have," he added. "I think this is one of the first roles she's had that has allowed her to project the totality of her being. She embodies a certain strength and dignity in her work, and it seemed like it was a natural fit. She's a phenomenal talent."

Indeed.

'Life Support' will premiere as the closing night film of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 26. For the past few years, HBO has showcased its top notch projects at the industry-exclusive confab. The multiple award winning 'Lackawanna Blues' garnered raves when it showed there. With the star power of Foxx and Latifah, 'Life Support' should fare just as well -- maybe even better.

"The impact of HIV on women in the African-American community is a crisis at the heart of contemporary American life that no one is talking about," noted HBO Films president Colin Callender, adding "we are proud to be working with Nelson George on his directorial debut on a story that is so personal and so timely."

The film will debut March 10 on HBO, with a special Black History Month sneak preview on HBO On Demand the week of Feb. 26.