Janelle Monae aims for the stars
If you know Janelle Monae, you know her as a high-energy, Afro-futuristic musician. Others recognize her as an “easy, breezy, beautiful” Covergirl. This winter, however, everyone will know her as an actor as she stars in “Hidden Figures,” which opens in limited release Christmas Day — on the heels of a supporting turn in Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight.” The film, which will be her first major role, pinpoints the secret to America’s success in the space race: a group of black women, known as “computers,” who served as the brains behind many of NASA’s early successes. It’s a story, Monae said, that made her emotional when she first read the script.
“I cried … because I had never heard of Katherine Johnson or Dorothy Vaughan or Mary Jackson or any of the colored computers who worked at NASA,” she said. “These are true American heroes; they made America great again. How could they not be mentioned (in history)? I’m appalled, outraged.
“But I’m also excited that we finally get to see a different side of black women. We get to see us as brilliant-minded mathematicians who are necessary to the culture.”
“Hidden Figures,” adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly’s book of the same name, highlights the contributions of the black women who worked at the
“When we stick together, we can change the world.”
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (which would become NASA) through the mid- to late 1970s. At the center of the story are Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson), Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Jackson (Monae), who, along with other black women, overcome sexism and racism to become integral members of the organization.
For Monae, the role was an opportunity to return to her roots. In addition to the movie filming at the historically black, all-male Morehouse College in Atlanta — where she often performed before being discovered by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2006 — she was able to flex the acting chops she sharpened at the American Music and Dramatics Academy. “Hidden Figures” is the 30-yearold’s chance to take ideals championed in her music — namely, women’s rights and sisterhood — and transpose them to film.
“(This film) empowers us, inspires us that no matter what sexism or setback we experience because we are women, we can prevail,” she said. “When we stick together, we can change the world. We sent a man into space.”
Monae quotes a line from her character that she hopes moviegoers, and the entertainment industry, remember: “Every time we try to move ahead, they move the finish line.”
“I want those in the position of power to stop making it hard for us to have opportunities,” she said. “We’re here. We’re ready.” Nov. 13 birthdays: Actor Joe Mantegna is 69. Actress Frances Conroy is 63. Actor Chris Noth is 62. Actress Whoopi Goldberg is 61. Actress Caroline Goodall is 57. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel is 49. Actor Steve Zahn is 49. Actor Gerard Butler is 47.