Mary J. Blige has confirmed that she will star in the Nina Simone biopic written by "Will & Grace's" Cynthia Mort, and is set to begin filming at the end of this month. "I'm definitely still doing it, and I'm in acting classes for it now."
The script for 'Nina' (working title) is reportedly based on Simone's autobiography 'I Put a Spell on You,' and focuses on Simone's relationship with her assistant, Clifton Henderson, played by actor David Oyelowo (who is simultaneously filming 'Selma,' the biopic of Martin Luther King Jr').
Blige is also set to star in the comedy 'Rock of Ages' alongside Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise. "I'm playing Justice Charlier, a gentleman's club owner," Blige told US Weekly. "I'm having so much fun preparing for it, and I know Tom. I love Tom. He just really wants the best for everybody."
We wish Blige the best playing the iconic jazz singer and expect 'Nina' to have an impressive soundtrack. Hopefully her acting classes and previous work will prepare her to give a substantive performance. She already has the voice but she'll have to ditch the blonde hair and get back to her gritty soulful roots to do Simone justice.