It’s been almost 30 years since Diana Ross stunned us all with her performance in “The Lady Sings The Blues” and winning her an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress plus winning a Best Newcomer Golden Globe. Now there’s new Billie Holliday in town, and dare we say, she is so brilliant, she even surpasses Miss Ross.
Openly gay director Lee Daniels who exacts this award-worthy performance from Andra Day also makes a point of including aspects of Holliday’s life that the circumspect 1972 version omitted. From the first trailer released (below) you can see that Daniel’s touches on both Holiday’s queerness but also her well as her role in the Civil Rights movement.
Though Day is not known to be publicly queer, Daniels has said that the decision to cast her in the titular role was a no-brainer. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he thought Day “was enchanting and she did embody the spirit of Billie” in their first meeting.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday premieres February 26 on Hulu.
