Taraji P Henson As Brad Pitt's Mother
I'm sure everyone has seen the lovely-looking trailer for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by now, starring Brad Pitt as the titular character who is born an old man and ages backwards, and Cate Blanchett as the woman he falls in love with along the way. However, I'm not sure if it's yet common knowledge that Taraji P Henson (Hustle & Flow, Talk To Me) has a significant role in the film, and is listed 3rd in the credits (right behind Pitt and Blanchett) on most marketing materials I've seen of the film, ahead of names like Tilda Swinton.In the film, she plays a character by the name of Queenie, Brad Pitt's mother. I haven't read the original F. Scott Fitzgerald story that the film is based on, but from what I've heard, her character didn't exist in his version, so she may have been added into the feature adaptation. I'm guessing she adopts Benjamin Button.
I need to read the short story :o) If you'd like to, you can read it HERE. I will read it later on today. It's only 23 pages.
Anyway... yes, she plays a significant role in the film, and some are already throwing her into the Oscar mix for 2009, as a "Best Supporting Actress" nominee! The film itself is already getting a lot of Oscar buzz, but reading that her performance could warrant a nomination is nice!
I found an old interview she did with Blackfilm.com in which she talks briefly and excitedly about her role in the film. The interview is from June 2007, when the film was beginning production.
Here's an excerpt:
"This role is certainly the biggest role of my career and most challenging to date because I age from 26 to 71, prostethics, fat suit and all. It's a period piece. Early 1900 period piece. It's incredible work. This is the film that I can't wait for to come out. It's the biggest project that I've worked on to date and that's the one that will get me to the very next level. People would ask me, "How does it feel to work with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett?" like I would go ga-ga over it, and a little bit of me was like that and is like that, and at the same time, that's where I belong. This is where I always saw myself, as an A-list actress. So, I'm right where I belong."
I've been a David Fincher fan since Seven, and Benjamin Button is one film I'm looking forward to seeing later on this year!
If you haven't seen the trailer, here it is. We do get a few shots of Taraji in it:
I'm looking forward to seeing this as well. Knowing this about Taraji makes me even more curious. Can't wait!
Curiouser and curiouser...!
Critics panned Youth Without Youth but I'm sure comparisons will be drawn (even if only by me). That this one stars Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchet is to its general advantage, I'd presume.
One to look out for and forward to.
And kudos to Ms Henson. Let's hope that this really will be a career making role for her, rather than just an Oscar nomination and then a return to near obscurity.