Andra Day and Lee Daniels discuss “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” the Civil Rights Movement, and systemic racism in America.
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TRANSCRIPT
Andra Day: Congratulations, Lee. And congratulations to our whole team, who put their hearts and souls into this movie.
So first off, let's talk about why you wanted to make a film about Billie Holiday.
Lee Daniels: You know, 'Lady Sings the Blues' inspired me so much as a kid, as a teenager. I wanted to make people feel the way I felt.
And I think that that movie set me off to the trajectory of making films. But it wasn't the complete true story and when Susan Laurie Parks gave me this incredible script, there was no way I could turn it down.
I mean we find out that the government is taking her down, doing everything they can to stop this lady from singing 'Strange Fruit.'
And for that I think she is a Civil Rights leader. And she kicked off the Civil Rights Movement as we know it to be.
And I had to honor her, so yeah.
AD: It meant a lot to me to help you tell this story. And that you trusted me to dive in with you and to bring this story to life.
LD: You are magnificent, Andra. Yeah, I don't know that I could have even done this movie without you. You are my hero and done Billie Holiday justice.
AD: And I feel exactly the same way about you. There is no way I could have done anything like this with anybody else. So you really inspire me and are my hero as well too.
LD: I think that if Billie Holiday was able to do what she was able to do back in her day. We have to take the example of that and we've got to do more.
And I think that, I don't know whether or not it'll be accomplished in our grown-up lifetime. I don't believe so. The country is damaged. It's fractured. I think it's gonna happen, maybe, if we're doing the work, in our grandkids' generation.
We have to look at systemic racism. We have to look it dead in the eye.
We've got to address it so this country, this nation, can heal.
AD: Yeah, that's right, perfectly said, as usual.
[both laughing] Congratulations, Lee.
LD: Thank you! Thank you to everybody from the cast and crew, to the studio, everybody, thank you for all your support. And my mom, my kids, thank you 'Movies for Grownups' and thank you especially AARP the Magazine, which I am now addicted to, now that you forced me to look at my age.
[both laughing] AD: You look good though, that's the key.
LD: Thank you!
