Bessie

Bessie (2015)

Survival began with a song

Drama Music TV Movie

The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.

star 6.4 6.7 91%
  • Release Date: 2015-05-16
  • Runtime: 1h 47min
  • Director: Dee Rees

Where to Watch Bessie Online

You can now watch Bessie online on the following streaming services in the United States.

    • Trailer

    Cast

    • Queen Latifah

      Bessie Smith

    • Kamryn Johnson

      Young Bessie

    • Rikki McKinney

      Chorus Guy

    • Alan T. Coleman

      Stagehand

    • Tory Kittles

      Clarence

    • Clay Chappell

      '81' Theatre Owner

    • Tika Sumpter

      Lucille

    • Sharan C. Mansfield

      Miss Taylor

    • Neko Parham

      Rehearsal Director

    • Onira Tarés

      Chorus Girl

    • Jhoni Davis

      Chorus Girl

    • Jim R. Coleman

      Host

    • Melissa Youngblood

      Theatergoer

    • Mo'Nique

      Ma Rainey

    • Jennifer Sears

      Ma's Main Girl

    • Charles S. Dutton

      William 'Pa' Rainey

    • Briana Starks

      Ma's Dancer

    • Todd Allen Durkin

      Nightclub Manager

    • Crystal Lee Brown

      Bessie's Dancer

    • Hunter Womack

      Roadie

    • Christopher Harvey

      Roadie

    • Tia Hendricks

      Doreen Dupree

    • Marie Burke

      Etta Johnson

    • Michael Kenneth Williams

      Jack Gee

    • Terence Rosemore

      Detroit Theater Manager

    • Karri Mack

      Wild Child

    • Kaden Washington Lewis

      Swarm Boy

    • Khandi Alexander

      Viola

    • L. Warren Young

      Sharkish Man

    • Saundra Dunson-Franks

      Hostess

    • Bralyn Stokes

      Harry Herbert Pace

    • Cj Sykes

      Black Swan Executive

    • Adebukola Bodunrin

      Black Swan Receptionist

    • Joe Knezevich

      Frank Walker

    • Mike Epps

      Richard

    • Troy Faruk

      Brave Man

    • David Paul Lord

      Klansman

    • Chris Walters

      Doorman

    • Jessejames Locorriere

      Vanity Fair Editor

    • Oliver Platt

      Carl Van Vechten

    • Whitney Goin

      Fania Van Vechten

    • Jeremie Harris

      Langston Hughes

    • Chantelle Rose Mussenden

      Gertrude

    • Sylvester Ambrose James II

      Jack Gee Jr.

    • Bryan Greenberg

      John Hammond

    • Levi Erik

      Benny Goodman

    • Gerard 'Gus' Williams

      Gangster

    • Tim McAdams

      Shady Guy

    • Kenny Banks Jr.

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Michael Burton

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Roderick Harris

      Bessie's Band Member

    • John A. Harvey

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Reggie Hines

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Kevin Kendrick

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Marcus Lewis

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Kenneth Murray Jr.

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Kwame Paige

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Jason Passmore

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Daniel Saintil

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Craig Shaw

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Don C. Sherow

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Dashiel Smith

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Eric Solomon

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Teddy White

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Wilbert Williams

      Bessie's Band Member

    • Brandon Boone

      Ma's Band Member

    • Robert Boone

      Ma's Band Member

    • Daniel Terence Harper

      Ma's Band Member

    • Anton Harris

      Ma's Band Member

    • Jody Mayfield

      Ma's Band Member

    • Derrick B. White

      Ma's Band Member

    • Edward Wright

      Ma's Band Member

    • Jonathan Bryant

      Dancer

    • Heather Bland

      Dancer

    • Raquiah Carter

      Dancer

    • Lauren Debrick

      Dancer

    • Desiree Dixon

      Dancer

    • Anthony Hart

      Dancer

    • Nia Lancelin

      Dancer

    • Keshia McNeal

      Dancer

    • Samara Michelle

      Dancer

    • LaVaughn Morton

      Dancer

    • Tiffany Murray

      Dancer

    • Ashley Neal

      Dancer

    • Tiffany Norris

      Dancer

    • Christopher L. Plunkett

      Dancer

    • Stephan Reynolds

      Dancer

    • Nateli Ruiz

      Dancer

    • Primas Leon Stanley

      Dancer

    • Brentney Stephens

      Dancer

    • Dacia Stinson

      Dancer

    • Fred Swinton

      Dancer

    • Sheerod Tate

      Dancer

    • Quiantae Thomas

      Dancer

    • Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

      Dancer

    • Kendre White

      Dancer

    • Selah Avery

      Background Extra (uncredited)

    • Perry Ball

      Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

    • Qualen Bradley

      Stage Crew (uncredited)

    • Alkoya Brunson

      Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

    • Jeffery James Bucchino

      Doorman (uncredited)

    • Judy McGee Burley

      Extra (uncredited)

    • Jess Marie Carr

      Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

    • Jameson Jamey Copeland

      Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

    • Taurus Davis

      Extra (uncredited)

    • Dino Demitri

      KKK Driver (uncredited)

    • Derrick Dee

      Bodyguard (uncredited)

    • Shannon Edwards

      Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

    • Tyrone Emanuel

      Party Guest (uncredited)

    • Samuel Lee Fudge

      Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

    • Adella Gautier

      Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

    • Curtis Gordon

      Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

    • Jermaine Salute Green

      Graveyard Worker (uncredited)

    • Montice Harmon

      Party Goer (uncredited)

    • Roger A. Harrison

      Theater Goer (uncredited)

    • Rob Hays

      Server (uncredited)

    • Sarah Turner Holland

      Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

    • Damita Jane Howard

      Jack's Lover (uncredited)

    • Geoffrey Howard

      Poker Player (uncredited)

    • Charlie Johnson

      Party Goer (uncredited)

    • Noah Hudson Killingbeck

      Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

    • Andre Lamar

      Cheering Fan (uncredited)

    • Trey McGriff

      Pedestrian (uncredited)

    • Lanier McKinney

      Dancer (uncredited)

    • John Merical

      VIP Guest (uncredited)

    • Dan Michael

      Theater Goer (uncredited)

    • Letecia Reeder

      Patron (uncredited)

    • Swift Rice

      Stage Hand (uncredited)

    • Darrell L. Shuler

      Club Goer (uncredited)

    • Alexis Silvestre

      Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

    • Nicole Spiezio

      Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

    • Dorothea Syleos

      Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

    • Tray Williams

      Stage Crew (uncredited)

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