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Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald talks about bringing Aretha Franklin’s mother Barbara to life in the biopic Respect.
Respect, released on August 13, honors not only Aretha Franklin’s career but also her personal life. The legendary singer collaborated on the project before her death, allowing for a more intimate portrait of her story. One of the aspects linked to the film is the love bond between Aretha, played by Jennifer Hudson, and her mother, Barbara.
Audra McDonald, who plays Barbara, spoke to Screen cry to discover the hidden depths of her role and to see Aretha herself in the star of the film.
Screen Rant: Aretha Franklin had such a strong bond with her mother, Barbara, and it almost shapes who she becomes in the movie. Can you tell me about the research you did for the role and the relationship the two had?
Audra McDonald: We don’t know much about Barbara Franklin. There are very few people alive now who knew her.
That being said, we were able to research some things. We got to know his musical ability, know the pain of separation from his children, and CL [Aretha’s father, played by Forest Whitaker in the film] being the one who had custody of it. And I know Barbara always wanted to be a part of their life, so it was very painful for her.
Mahalia Jackson once said of Barbara Franklin to be one of the greatest gospel voices in the country – Mahalia Jackson said that about Barbara Franklin. She was a very bright, talented and beautiful woman in her own right. And she just tried to impart as much wisdom and a sense of security and love, connection to God and connection to herself and her sense of self, as much as she could in a short period of time. I think she was very aware that she had little time with her children, just because of the nature of the life situation and the fact that she was separated from her children. I don’t think in the end she would have realized that it actually meant how much time she would have on earth with her children.
Aretha was very close to her mother, was very close to her and was devastated by her death. But obviously her mother survived, and her inheritance outlasted Aretha – until it’s the same face. If you look at the photos of Barbara Franklin, it’s Aretha’s face.
During the process of the film, did you discover anything about Aretha Franklin that you hadn’t known before?
Audra McDonald: Nothing that I didn’t know before, but there was something very moving about seeing Aretha come to life in Jennifer. And what I noticed most of all while we were filming with Jennifer was that there were times when I was looking at Jennifer, in the room with her, and I was like, “She looks like Aretha. is it happening? ” She was literally starting to embody him fully.
I remember saying that [to] Liesl [Tommy] at one point, “She looks exactly like him. What’s going on? Something’s going on. She’s literally starting to transform.” And Jennifer and Aretha have a lot in common.
Jennifer Hudson completely transforms into Aretha. Was there a time when you were like, “Wow? “
Audra McDonald: Absolutely, right in front of your eyes. Even to the point that the night we were shooting the scene that Jennifer and I have in the movie, Jennifer and I were just sitting in the back chatting a bit before we started. And I looked at it and I see it even now. We’re not even filming right now. You are just starting to understand why Aretha saw herself as Jennifer and said, “This is the one.”
- Respect 2021Release Date: August 13, 2021
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