Taraji P. Henson is keen to play Darlene Love in a biopic, after producing a new documentary about the hugely successful singer.
Taraji P. Henson would love to play Darlene Love in a biopic, because she sees “so much of” herself in her story.
Darlene has been making hit tracks for over 60 years, with her career followed in new documentary Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been.
Empire star Taraji is a producer of the documentary, and told Deadline that Darlene’s perseverance is something that resonates deeply with her – so much so that she could see herself playing the singer, now 85, on the silver screen,
She said: “When you’re a woman, a Black woman of a certain age, if you haven’t made your dreams come true yet, it kind of looks bleak.
“It kind of looks like it’s never going to happen. And I know there are so many people out there, it doesn’t matter what age, that need this story… And I felt I needed this story.
“I see so much of young Taraji in her story and all the obstacles that I had to go through coming to LA with a kid on my hip.
“And those stories matter because they inspire people and they let people know that if you don’t give up on yourself, the universe won’t.”
As for her own determination in life, Darlene told Deadline: “No matter what was going on in front of me with children, ex-husbands, whatever it was, it was not going to stop me. And I just never looked back.
“And there was plenty that was holding me back even when I was saying, ‘This is not going to hold me back.’ It’s just determination, the faith I had in God that I knew I wanted to do this.”
Taraji continued the interview with her fan-girling over Darlene, as she praised her for making her feel things that other singers can’t.
She added: “There are a lot of people out here who have beautiful voices. They hit the notes perfectly, but do they make me feel what they are singing about?
“She will stop you in your tracks because it’s not just her voice is powerful, it’s where it’s coming from. That’s coming from a lived life.
“That’s coming from pain. That’s coming from joy. That’s coming from faith. That’s coming from a place you can feel.”
Taraji P. Henson keen to play Darlene Love on screen
