Credit: WENN

From Essence

Sidra Smith, also known as actress Tasha Smith’s equally ebullient twin sister, is the producer behind the thrilling new documentary on political activist Angela Davis.Free Angela and All Political Prisoners explores the explosive months Davis spent on trial for murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy charges in 1972.

We spoke with Smith about her involvement in the Shola Lynch-directed project, finally getting to meet Davis in Toronto, and how she got Jada Pinkett Smith (with Will Smith and Jay-Z through their entertainment companies, Overbook Entertainment and Roc Nation respectively) involved.

ESSENCE: Did Shola Lynch come to you with this project?

Read what Sidra Smith had to say on Essence.com.

Source: Lions Gate

If you ask me, Why Did I Get Married was one of Tyler Perry’s best movies. Sure, it was still overly dramatic at times; but I know I was invested in the characters and their stories. It was funny, heartbreaking at times–especially when Mike was dogging Sheila out– and it even provoked a little discussion. You know the plot…in fact, you  have the DVD at the crib; but, we bet you don’t know what the stars of the film had to say about the process. Check it out in the pages to follow.

Source: Wenn.com

Hey All!  The entertainment business is very diverse, and sometimes you will see one celebrity move seamlessly from one entertainment profession to another.  Singers become actors, actors become directors and sometimes ex0tic dancer become celebrities.  Last year IndigoBlack released a list of 8 celebrities who you might not have realized had some past dealings with poles.  Here is a newer list.  Let’s see if any of these were surprises for you:

FayesVision/WENN.com

It hasn’t been an easy road to stardom for some of these talented ladies, and while they’ve gotten their chance to shine in supporting roles and lesser-known flicks, these actresses have too much talent and too much ambition to be relegated to the background for much longer. With the roles they’ve snagged this year, these ladies are poised to be the next big thing. Here are 10 actresses who are ready to have their breakthrough.

Source: WENN

I may already be drooling now in anticipation of this movie. A big-screen adaption of erotica writer Zane’s novel “Addicted” has been rumored to be in the works for a minute but it finally looks like the ball is actually rolling. According to Shadow and Act, Lionsgate is behind the film and they have just cast some amazing eye candy as the male lead in the book: Boris Kodjoe.

In case you need a refresher, he’s a synopsis of the psychological drama:

For Zoe Reynard, finding the pleasure she wants, the way she wants it, is not worth the risk of losing everything she has: marriage to the man she has loved since childhood, a thriving company, three wonderful children. But Zoe feels helpless in the grip of an overpowering addiction…to sex. Finding a compassionate woman therapist to help her, Zoe finally summons the courage to tell her torrid story, a tale of guilt and desire as shocking as it is compelling. From the sensitive artist with whom she spends stolen hours on rumpled sheets to the rough and violent man who draws her toward destruction, Zoe is a woman desperately searching for fulfillment — and something darker, deeper, and perhaps deadly. As her life spins out of control and her sexual escapades carry her toward a dangerous choice, Zoe is racing against time to uncover the source of her “fatal attraction” — as chilling secrets tumble forth from the recesses of a woman’s mind, and perilous temptations lead toward a climax that can threaten her sanity, her marriage… and her life.

It’s not known what specific male lead Boris will be taking on, but I’m leaning more toward the sensitive artist character than the dangerous guy Zoe gets involved with but we shall see. He could also play a good hubby too.

Female leads are up in the air also, but S ad A has heard that Nia Long was being considered for Zoe and Tasha Smith as the therapist. That could be an interesting mix.

Although production was supposed to begin this summer, the film has yet again been delayed – until when we’re not certain. I’m definitely crossing my fingers that this eventually happens.

What do you think about Boris in “Addicted?” Can you see Nia and Tasha in the film?

Source: thegrio.com

From The Grio

Actress Tasha Smith currently stars in Tyler Perry’s hit TBS sitcom For Better or Worse. On the show she plays Angela Williams, a character made popular in Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? film and its sequel.

During a recent interview with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon, Smith talked about how she is a multi-talented entrepreneur with numerous business ventures in the works, including a fragrance, acting workshop, wig line and speaker’s bureau. She revealed that a lot of her inspiration comes from Perry.

“I learn a lot from him and he is so inspirational and has been such a support system with me. He always encourages me to go and do what God called me to do, and to have faith,” Smith said.

The Jumping the Broom star also revealed that her dream role is to play Donna Summer is a movie biopic.

Read more at The Grio

More on Madame Noire!

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We see them on TV, and on the movie screen. We hear them on the radio. We follow them on Twitter. Our fave celebs are creating all kinds of buzz and blazing trails in everything they do. These business-savvy celebs have launched some lucrative ventures worth checking out. Take a look…

straightfromthea.com

Jennifer Hudson

It seems that just about everything JHud touches turns to gold. First, it was her Oscar-worthy role in Dreamgirls. Then it was her Grammy-award winning debut album. Now it is Weight Watchers. JHud wowed us with her phenomenal weight loss reveal last year, and now she hopes to influence people in her native Chicago to do the same. JHud became the first celebrity to have a Weight Watchers center when she opened the Jennifer Hudson Weight Watchers Center in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood last fall.

What’s next for JHud? A launch of her new clothing line, the Jennifer Hudson Collection on QVC this fall, as well as recurring role on the hit NBC show Smash, where she’ll take on the role of Broadway star Veronica Moore.

Source: Black Enterprise

From Black Enterprise.com

Tasha Smith is the around-the-way girl from Camden, New Jersey, who fans know as the feisty, boisterous, no-nonsense character Angela in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? movie franchise. The 41-year-old actress is unapologetically transparent about her personal struggles, including recovering as a heavy drug abuser. Now, the actress is appearing on television as the leading lady of Tyler Perry’s TBS sitcom For Better or Worse. black enterprise caught up with Smith for a candid conversation about whether she is perpetuating negative stereotypes of black women and what business lessons she has learned.

Check out the interview with Tasha at Black Enterprise.com.

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• Is Graduate School Worth It? 6 Things To Consider Before Taking The Plunge

You ever watch a movie and say to yourself, “Dag, why do they always play the same role in every movie?” The people on this list, whether accidentally or intentionally, have pretty much played the same person in every movie we’ve seen them in. Don’t get me wrong, I love most of these actors and actresses but I often wonder if they think about the roles they’ve played or if they’re fine with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix” rule of thumb…

Read the rest of this entry »

In less than a week, Tasha Smith will bring her “Why Did I Get Married” character Angela to the small screen in the new sitcom “For Better or Worse.”  The loud, argumentative, and perpetually tipsy persona of the character has been criticized as yet another representation of the “angry black woman” stereotype, which has turned some fans off. But in a recent interview, the newlywed actress says she’s not buying it. The stunning actress told Black Enterprise:

C’mon let’s be real: Any woman who has been in a relationship and has experienced anything close to what Angela and Marcus have knows things happen. People want to say Black women are loud, but everyone knows it was a white woman who cut off her man’s penis. You never heard a Black woman doing that! A Black woman might put a hoe in check; but she ain’t cutting off no penis. (Laughs) Angela’s passionate, and if people give [the show] a chance, they will see how she matures as we all do.

I have to agree with Tasha. Sometimes we get so caught up in image and how we’ll be perceived that we don’t even allow ourselves to see the humor in certain things, like the obviously over-the-top nature of Angela and Marcus’ relationship. Perhaps it’s the fact that Tyler Perry is behind the production that makes some automatically squeamish, which is another issue in and of itself. But Angela’s character was obviously created to invoke humor, and that she does. Plus, it shouldn’t be ignored that she is a successful businesswoman, and in the movie was one of four upscale black women with far more toned down personalities.