Queen Latifah captivated a packed crowd at the first of the Red Sea Film Festival “In Conversation” series, where she sat down with Saudi podcaster Mo Islam (“The Mo Show”) to reflect on her evolution from hip-hop pioneer to award-winning actor and producer.
Latifah traced her creative foundation back to childhood. “There was a lot of music in my house, a lot of art, a lot of books,” she said. “There was just not much you couldn’t do in my family.” That sense of possibility eventually led her beyond music and into acting, where she found both freedom and challenge.
She recalled the turning point of her film career: “When I was nominated for my Oscar for ‘Chicago,’ it changed my career. You become known to people in places you never would’ve thought of.” The nomination allowed her production company to “swing toward film,” leading to projects like “Beauty Shop” and “Bringing Down the House,” where she was both on screen talent and producer.
Latifah described her approach to choosing roles: “It all starts with a good script. Or I look for something in a character I think I can bring to it.” Many of her roles, she said, “weren’t written for a woman. We just saw something in them, changed the role, and then we had a movie.” She gravitates toward characters with strength, even in vulnerability: “Strong means someone who has to overcome something.”
On dealing with studio notes, she said bluntly: “You face pushback either way. The difficulty is when it’s from someone who has no creativity and way too much power.” Still, she emphasized the value of collaboration, adding that occasionally, “a good note can make it better for the audience.”
Latifah closed by urging artists to live fully: “Nothing replaces actually living life. That’s what makes the art real.”
