ANDRA DAY AS BILLIE HOLIDAY
The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday + More
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a personal project for Andra Day. She cites Holiday as an early influence on her vocal style. And she chose her stage name as an homage to the performer.
Day’s first album came after being discovered by Stevie Wonder in 2010. And she is best known for her Grammy-nominated R&B single, “Rise Up.” That song has been featured by Disney, American Idol, and became a campaign anthem for Hillary Clinton. Day recently performed it as part of the virtual inaugural parade for President Biden.
In her first acting role, Day gives a raw performance as Billie Holiday. The movie is directed by Oscar-nominee Lee Daniels, with a screenplay by Pulitzer-Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks. The film shows Holiday’s drug addiction and love affairs. Holiday’s lovers in the film include Tallulah Bankhead (Natasha Lyonne of Russian Doll) and undercover narcotics agent Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes of Moonlight).
The movie focuses on how (even in the North) Holiday was discouraged from singing her signature anti-lynching song Strange Fruit by the U.S. Government. The U.S. government went to such extremes to stop her from singing the song, that they launched a criminal investigation into her drug addiction.
Last month, Day received two Golden Globe nominations for the movie: Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Original Song. But Billie Holiday is a role that comes with an established awards pedigree. Broadway actress Audra McDonald scored a 2016 Emmy nod and a 2014 Tony nod for playing Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. And in 1973, singer Diana Ross received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for playing Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues. 1973 was the first time a Black woman had received a nod in the Best category since 1954.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday will be available to stream on Hulu on February 26.
