STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Viola Davis as Shirley Chisholm? Yes!

Finally, a biopic seems to have gotten it right.

Finally, a biopic seems to have gotten it right. All of this miscasting in films on icons of history is disappointing. But, this time around Oscar nominee and two-time Tony Award winner, Viola Davis, as legendary political figure Shirley Chisholm is silver screen perfection.\r
Chisholm was born and raised in New York. She was the first Black woman elected to Congress, representing New York's 12th Congressional District from 1969 to 1983. In addition, according to Wikipedia, she was the first "major-party black candidate for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination."\r
Chisholm was vilified in the press during her run for president, which was examined in the 2005 documentary, Shirley Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed, which won a Peabody Award.  Chisholm passed away in early 2005.\r
Viola Davis is one of the only actresses who has the depth and the vigor to portray Chisholm on screen.  According to the New York Daily News, the producers, Bryan Gambogi and Grant Anderson, want Davis but the deal hasn't been sealed. We hope Davis lands the role -- or Angelina Jolie might take it!\r
SOURCE

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.