July 16, 2007

Straight Talk

After her breakout roll opposite Tyrese Gibson in John Singleton's 'Baby Boy' made Hollywood take note, Taraji P. Henson was able to position herself as a versatile actress by following up with a part in Lifetime's 'The Division,' as well as roles in feature films 'Four Brothers,' 'Animal,' 'Something New' and 'Smokin' Aces.' But it was Henson's phenomenal performance as Shug in 'Hustle & Flow' that had many feeling she was snubbed for a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards.

The 36-year-old Washington, DC native currently stars in 'Talk To Me,' a Kasi Lemmons-directed film based on the life of radio pioneer Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. Green, a former convict turned infamous radio host, was an icon in Henson's hometown and his story was relevant to the back story success of what we now know as Radio One.

Henson told me that this movie reminded her of how proactive Americans were during the late 1960's and early 1970's. "During that decade, Americans stood up for whatever they believed in. During the Vietnam War, Americans stood up and said: 'No! Bring the troops home!' Today, we're afraid to do it because during that decade we lost so many leaders. People are afraid to take those kinds of stands because the message is that if you stand up, you're going to take a bullet," she exclaimed. "But I think the universe is kind of hungry for that right now. The time is now!"

The film, which also stars Don Cheadle ('Hotel Rwanda'), Chiwetel Ejiofor ('Inside Man') and Cedric The Entertainer, made its debut in limited release this past weekend in 33 theaters, will expand to 300 in the coming weeks and will go wide later in the summer.

While critics rave about Henson's performance in 'Talk To Me,' there's already serious buzz surrounding her role in the movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.' In the film, Henson will reportedly play Brad Pitt's mother. "Oh God," she laughed. "That's not how I saw myself when I got up with Brad Pitt. But yeah, he calls me, 'Momma.' It takes place in the early 1900s all the way up to present time. Everybody is aging. Brad Pitt is aging backwards. I age from 26 to 71, so it's certainly the most challenging role for me. I can't say too much about it because I signed a confidentiality agreement." "It's definitely going to be an Oscar contender," Henson said about the film. "Its being released Christmas 2008 and any movie released around that time and of that magnitude is definitely going to be an Oscar contender."

And while Henson would love to finally get her chance at Oscar gold for 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' she's also clear: "I'm trying to get nominated for ['Talk To Me'] first!"

In the meantime, look for Henson to star opposite Morris Chestnut ('Two Can Play That Game') in the Bill Duke ('A Rage in Harlem') film, 'Not Easily Broken.' The film is an adaptation of Bishop T.D. Jakes' novel of the same name. "I finally get to play this professional woman that I've had to prove that I can do. It has a lot of heart. It's a far stretch from 'Baby Boy' when I first started," she closed.

Hollywood Swingin'

Though I didn't actually attend the ESPY Awards, the sports-centered awards show certainly provided quite the social atmosphere in Los Angeles last week. I began my week in La La Land by attending a gifting suite at the spa La Vie L'Orange, which was organized by power publicist Linda Jones, actor Darius McCrary ('Family Matters') and Dealmakers Entertainment.

While guests snacked on vittles and drank everything from Vitamin Water to Mojitos, the facility offered manicures, pedicures, massages and a bunch of swag. Marv The Barber even flew in from Washington, DC to touch-up the guys' hairlines. Lots of cool folks attended the gathering, including Vanessa A. Williams('Soul Food'), Gary Sturgis ('Pride'), Tatyana Ali ('Fresh Prince of Bel Air'), Wesley Jonathan ('Roll Bounce') with girlfriend Denyce Lawton, Elise Neal ('Hustle & Flow'), author Karrine Steffans ('Confessions of a Video Vixen'), track legend Carl Lewis, comic Lunelle ('Borat'), reality star Omarosa, Cedric Pendleton ('House of Payne'), Tosha Smith ('Daddy's Little Girl'), model agent Keith Lewis ( 'Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School'), newcomer Cordele Taylor, and 'Charm School' girls Larissa Aurora and Leilene Ondrade. Publicists Lynn Allen Jeter, Reid Johnson, Lela Thompson, Toi Troutman and Eugenia Wright all held court as well.

'Charm School's' Larissa Aurora was quite engaging! A natural beauty, whom I'll be featuring in this column in a few weeks, had some very choice words for 'Charm School' host Mo'Nique. Put it this way, there's definitely no love loss there and the lady formerly known as "Bootz" still believes Mo'Nique is "full of s@#&!"

Before I left the event, I recorded Darius McCray giving Karrine Steffans a foot massage in the spa's courtyard on Steffans' personal digital camera. An adorable senior citizen woman, not knowing who either talent was, began asking random questions while the video rolled. The inquisitive redhead asked were the two married and they decided to play along as though they were. When Steffans posted the clip on her video diary at Karrine.com, the gossip blogs had a field day with rumors that the two secretly wed. It was all in fun…but I guess that's how rumors start! McCrary is actually dating Shikiri Johnson, the ex-wife of former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson.

Fast forward to last Thursday when I attended a birthday dinner for former talk show host turned syndicated radio personality Rolonda Watts at the posh Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills. The fortysomething-yet-fabulous journalist celebrated her B-day with close friends, including her publicist Wylisa Bennett. The very-pregnant Naomi Watts and boyfriend Liev Schreiber seemed annoyed by the number of well-wishers who frequented Watt's table to wish her a "Happy Birthday" and posed for pictures. Star Jones Reynolds and hubby Al Scales Reynolds, CBS's Julie Chen ('The Early Show') and actress Theresa Randle ('Bad Boys'), who Watts starred opposite in Spike Lee's 'Girl 6,' were among those saluted the birthday girl.

I previously reported that Watts is dating 28-year-old Washington Redskin wide receiver Ataveus Cash. The two met when Watts was in the Nation's Capital for a performance of 'The Vagina Monologues' and her flight back to Los Angeles was canceled because of a snow storm. Watts met the injured athlete in the airport and after getting to know each other as friends, the two began dating seriously. Cash didn't attend Watts' birthday dinner because he was back east preparing to move to Los Angeles this month, where he and Watts will share a home together in the Hollywood Hills.

Let the Black Demi Moore jokes begin!

Buzzworthy

Gospel superstar Dottie Peoples continues to serve as the national spokesperson for Speaking of Women's Health, a nonprofit organization with a mission to educate women about their health, well-being and personal safety. Peoples began working with Speaking of Women's Health in 2006 and the Soul Train and Stellar Award winning singer is currently featured in the organization's book, 'Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence.'

I love Mona Scott! I just had to say that. The hip-hop music manager and television producer and I met briefly a few years back during a private party Sylvia Rhone hosted for Stevie Wonder following the BET Awards. I wrote then how Scott was non-too-happy about meeting me, since I had written a spoiler to that reality show 'The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott.' Nonetheless, I was reintroduced to Scott backstage at the Essence Music Festival and we had a chance to talk and everything is water under the bridge!

BV Scene

'Boondocks' creator Aaron McGruder and adult film star Mr. Marcus having dinner at SHU: Sushi House Unico in Bel Air, Calif… Actor Clarence Williams III ('Life') dining at Dan Tana's Restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood… Shaquille O'Neal and newly-blonde wife Shaunie leaving The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills for the ESPY Awards… Frontrunner for 'The View' Sherri Shepherd meeting famed music producer Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland outside of the The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills… Mekhi Phifer ('E.R.') having a late lunch with friend at The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills… Rosario Dawson ('Grindhouse') dining with friends at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills… Salt-N-Pepa deejay Spinderella and a group of girlfriends with Flavor Unit's Shakim Compere in the Window's Lounge at The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Can't Say Names…

Talk about a close call. As this athlete and his wife walked past the outdoor restaurant of a posh hotel, on the opposite side of the shrubbery sat one of the sports star's former mistresses. Though the "happy" couple never saw his one-time jump-off, she saw them as she sat with friends drinking cocktails and having lunch.