When I first saw Mary J. Blige appearing in the Dee Rees directed Netflix offering Mudbound, I couldnt believe my eyes or ears. I ran to Facebook to tell anyone who’d listen of her performance. Now, two months later, it appears as if the Academy Awards committee agreed with my original assessment.
No matter what you think you believe about Mary, her passion and fieriness are what made fans fall in love with her dating all the way back to Whats the 411, and certainly beyond.
Mary J. Blige – Reminisce
Music video by Mary J. Blige performing Reminisce. (C) 1992 Geffen Records
I was already miserable, and I was already suffering, and I had all this heaviness,” Blige told the audience after a recent New York City screening of the film during a Q&A session with radio personality Angie Martinez. “The insecurity of not really knowing whats going on. I didnt know what was going to happen in my life. I knew that I was hurting really bad and that something had to give. And I gave all my heaviness, insecuritiesI was mad insecure after so many years of being beaten down mentally. I just gave everything to Florence.
When Dee (director) said no makeup, no wigs, no eyelashes,’ I was like Damn, was she born with lashes? Can I have a wavy wig instead of my texture of hair? You know, Ive been rocking wigs and stuff for years because I was scared to show my forehead, and the texture of my hair, to me, was wack. But once I surrendered to Florence, I can wear my own edges out now.
Though it’s difficult to see one of our favorite celebrities get stripped bare under the searing media spotlight, Mary has never been one to withhold just how she feels about any situation. Shes also quick to let tear an inquisitive know-it-all to filth-flarn-filth if she so chose.
Mary J. Blige reacts to ‘amazing’ Oscar nomination
The “Mudbound” star told “GMA” she “never would have imagined” scoring a best supporting actress nomination.
But Mary is up against an Oscar competition that would make the faint-hearted cringe.
Not only does she have to go up against Laurie Metclaf (Lady Bird), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), and Allison Janney (I,Tonya), in the Best Supporting Actress category, but is also Octavia Spencer (Color of Water).
Spencer, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for The Help in 2012 and was nominated for another for her role in Hidden Figures last year, just might be Marys biggest obstacle toward getting that little gold statue of a faceless little, naked golden dude.
Now, we know the media is supposed to go through great lengths for the sake of objectivity, but were tellin you right now, we’re rootin for MJB.
