NEW YORK - Had things worked out differently, it might have been Queen Latifah in "Monster's Ball" instead of Halle Berry (news).



The rapper-singer-actress says she was slated to play the lead in the movie that netted Berry the Oscar for best actress in 2002. Berry was the first black to ever win an Oscar in that category.


"I actually had that role before Halle. But they couldn't set it up. It would have been me, Sean Penn and Robert De Niro (news)," Latifah told The Associated Press in a recent interview.


Instead, the low-budget drama starred Berry, Heath Ledger and Billy Bob Thornton (news).


Would Latifah have taken it all off for the role, as did Berry, for the movie's explicit sex scene?


"You wouldn't take that role without knowing what was there already," Latifah cautiously answered. "It was the type of script that was written to be an Oscar winner, and that's the only reason you would take it, because you know it would require so much of you as an actor, that if you don't get a freakin' Oscar for this, you ain't gonna ever get one."


Latifah was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for her role in "Chicago." She stars in the comedy "Taxi" with Jimmy Fallon (news) and recently released "The Dana Owens Album."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp.../queen_latifah

oh man! that sex scene would have turned the film toward the horror genre!

Every black actress in Hollywood claims they were up for that role.

and according to Latifah, anyone could have done it...

"It was the type of script that was written to be an Oscar winner, and that's the only reason you would take it, because you know it would require so much of you as an actor, that if you don't get a freakin' Oscar for this, you ain't gonna ever get one."

The really sad part is that since not being in Monster's Ball she's went on to star in Taxi, Bringing Down the House, and the upcoming Beauty Shop, and that's STILL better than the roles Halle Berry's been getting.

Oh snap! we be hatin' halle up in this joint!!

Thank you for putting an image in my mind that i will never forgive you for.

When I read the thread title, I immediately saw a picture of Billy Bob taking Queen Latifah doggie-style in my mind's eye.

And now I have the even more horrific image of Bobby D. taking Queen Latifah taking doggie style, with Jeff Spicoli walking in and announcing "Gnarly!"

That's not what she is saying at all. She is saying that the role certainly had Oscar written all over it, but "it would require so much of you as an actor". Saying "if you don't get a feakin' Oscar for this, you ain't gonna ever get one" is saying if you give everything as an actor to an incrediblly written (complex) character, you are not good enough to get one. I don't think anyone can deny that a best actor Oscar requiers both a good character and a good performance. That role obviously had the first and that is why everyone wanted it.

I highly doubt, for some reason, that Sean Penn would go for Queen over Halle.

I am guessing De Niro would, since he has been with black women.

The guys at ILM would've had a field day.

After listening to her latest, "The Dana Owens Album", I have newfound admiration for her. That, and the fact that I like the large ladies, makes me wish this had happened.

The only way it might have worked is if she played the Billy Bob role ....

I have to set aside my Barry pride to say.....True dat.

Sure...IF:

1. you missed the point of the sex scene in MB
2. you ONLY focus on the sex scene in MB and you miss the rest of movie
3. you have never seen Dana in a dramatic role where she earned great reviews.

4. Queen Latifah in the buff gives you the heebie jeebies

I was going to put that but I thought it would be to obvious. Personally I would've loved to have seen her "bignaturals".

True.

After gouging their eyes out, most people would have missed these things.


p.s. She shoulda starred with Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

Her, Sean Penn, and De Niro? Nice little dream she was having there.

To be honest there are more black women with husbands in jail that look like Latifah than Berry, so the movie would've been a little more realistic.

Could you imagine Latifa saying, "Make me feel good!" The horror! THE HORROR!

I'm just gonna step in here, cause there has to be somebody besides Giantrobo & the magnificent AGuyNamedMike sticking up for not-so-boney chicks, to say I think QL is a gorgeous woman. To each his own and all, but all that horror movie stuff? You all really find her that revolting or are you just playing it up a bit?

I can't really speak on her acting chops though. I thought she was good in Chicago as limited as the role was and servicable on Living Single (but how deep can you get on a sitcom?). I don't know if she could have pulled it off...hell Oscar and all I don't know if Halle did. Not that I'm the best judge since I reeeeally don't like her acting.

edited to fix oversight

Hey boredsilly. What am I, chopped liver?