Get the latest gossip

Queen Latifah based Chicago character on her grandmother after not knowing who director was referencing

Queen Latifah based her character Matron 'Mama' Morton in 'Chicago' on her grandmother after not knowing who director Rob Marshall was referencing when he told her to channel Sophie Tucker.

The actress received her only Oscar nomination (so far) for her work in the adaptation of the long-running stage musical, which costarred Renée Zellweger, as Roxie Hart, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, as Velma Kelly. Kelly is one of her fellow prisoners — she killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together — who Hart has admired from afar, because of her fame as a singer. She can also connect them to the right people, including suave, big-time lawyer Billy Flynn (Gere), who helps Hart gain the sympathy and adoration of the public ahead of her trial.

Get the Android app