Bessie
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Queen Latifah
Bessie Smith
Kamryn Johnson
Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney
Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman
Stagehand
Tory Kittles
Clarence
Clay Chappell
'81' Theatre Owner
Tika Sumpter
Lucille
Sharan C. Mansfield
Miss Taylor
Neko Parham
Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés
Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis
Chorus Girl
Jim R. Coleman
Host
Melissa Youngblood
Theatergoer
Mo'Nique
Ma Rainey
Jennifer Sears
Ma's Main Girl
Charles S. Dutton
William 'Pa' Rainey
Briana Starks
Ma's Dancer
Todd Allen Durkin
Nightclub Manager
Crystal Lee Brown
Bessie's Dancer
Hunter Womack
Roadie
Christopher Harvey
Roadie
Tia Hendricks
Doreen Dupree
Marie Burke
Etta Johnson
Michael Kenneth Williams
Jack Gee
Terence Rosemore
Detroit Theater Manager
Karri Mack
Wild Child
Kaden Washington Lewis
Swarm Boy
Khandi Alexander
Viola
L. Warren Young
Sharkish Man
Saundra Dunson-Franks
Hostess
Bralyn Stokes
Harry Herbert Pace
Cj Sykes
Black Swan Executive
Adebukola Bodunrin
Black Swan Receptionist
Joe Knezevich
Frank Walker
Mike Epps
Richard
Troy Faruk
Brave Man
David Paul Lord
Klansman
Chris Walters
Doorman
Jessejames Locorriere
Vanity Fair Editor
Oliver Platt
Carl Van Vechten
Whitney Goin
Fania Van Vechten
Jeremie Harris
Langston Hughes
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
Gertrude
Sylvester Ambrose James II
Jack Gee Jr.
Bryan Greenberg
John Hammond
Levi Erik
Benny Goodman
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Gangster
Tim McAdams
Shady Guy
Kenny Banks Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
Michael Burton
Bessie's Band Member
Roderick Harris
Bessie's Band Member
John A. Harvey
Bessie's Band Member
Reggie Hines
Bessie's Band Member
Kevin Kendrick
Bessie's Band Member
Marcus Lewis
Bessie's Band Member
Kenneth Murray Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
Kwame Paige
Bessie's Band Member
Jason Passmore
Bessie's Band Member
Daniel Saintil
Bessie's Band Member
Craig Shaw
Bessie's Band Member
Don C. Sherow
Bessie's Band Member
Dashiel Smith
Bessie's Band Member
Eric Solomon
Bessie's Band Member
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
Teddy White
Bessie's Band Member
Wilbert Williams
Bessie's Band Member
Brandon Boone
Ma's Band Member
Robert Boone
Ma's Band Member
Daniel Terence Harper
Ma's Band Member
Anton Harris
Ma's Band Member
Jody Mayfield
Ma's Band Member
Derrick B. White
Ma's Band Member
Edward Wright
Ma's Band Member
Jonathan Bryant
Dancer
Heather Bland
Dancer
Raquiah Carter
Dancer
Lauren Debrick
Dancer
Desiree Dixon
Dancer
Anthony Hart
Dancer
Nia Lancelin
Dancer
Keshia McNeal
Dancer
Samara Michelle
Dancer
LaVaughn Morton
Dancer
Tiffany Murray
Dancer
Ashley Neal
Dancer
Tiffany Norris
Dancer
Christopher L. Plunkett
Dancer
Stephan Reynolds
Dancer
Nateli Ruiz
Dancer
Primas Leon Stanley
Dancer
Brentney Stephens
Dancer
Dacia Stinson
Dancer
Fred Swinton
Dancer
Sheerod Tate
Dancer
Quiantae Thomas
Dancer
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson
Dancer
Kendre White
Dancer
Selah Avery
Background Extra (uncredited)
Perry Ball
Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
Qualen Bradley
Stage Crew (uncredited)
Alkoya Brunson
Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
Jeffery James Bucchino
Doorman (uncredited)
Judy McGee Burley
Extra (uncredited)
Jess Marie Carr
Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
Jameson Jamey Copeland
Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
Taurus Davis
Extra (uncredited)
Dino Demitri
KKK Driver (uncredited)
Derrick Dee
Bodyguard (uncredited)
Shannon Edwards
Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
Tyrone Emanuel
Party Guest (uncredited)
Samuel Lee Fudge
Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
Adella Gautier
Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
Curtis Gordon
Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
Montice Harmon
Party Goer (uncredited)
Rob Hays
Server (uncredited)
Sarah Turner Holland
Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Damita Jane Howard
Jack's Lover (uncredited)
Geoffrey Howard
Poker Player (uncredited)
Charlie Johnson
Party Goer (uncredited)
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Andre Lamar
Cheering Fan (uncredited)
Trey McGriff
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lanier McKinney
Dancer (uncredited)
John Merical
VIP Guest (uncredited)
Dan Michael
Theater Goer (uncredited)
Letecia Reeder
Patron (uncredited)
Swift Rice
Stage Hand (uncredited)
Darrell L. Shuler
Club Goer (uncredited)
Alexis Silvestre
Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Nicole Spiezio
Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
Dorothea Syleos
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Tray Williams
Stage Crew (uncredited)
