Mo'Nique steps away from comic roots for 'Precious'
MOVIES | Actress shows off her dramatic chops in Tyler Perry film
Mo'Nique is unique. The native of Woodlawn, Md., goes where most comedians won't go. She can easily pinpoint the day she figured out that she was funny.
"That was December 11th, 1967. That's when I entered into the world, baby," she says with a laugh.
She was a child with a goal.
"The only thing I wanted to do as a kid was to be famous," she says.
Mo'Nique is famous, and she's about to get a lot more attention -- but not for her comedy.
The former star of "Phat Girlz" is trying to wrap her head around the fact that she might hear her name on the other end of "And the nominees are..." for her role in the movie "Precious," opening Friday.
Mo'Nique's role as Mary, the mother from hell, has already been earning her the kind of reviews dramatic actresses wait an entire career to earn. She won a Special Acting Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film also earned the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.
And now there's talk of Oscar.
"Yes, there is talk of awards and I'm very excited," Mo'Nique says. "Anytime someone says, 'We want to honor you,' I want to be right there to say, 'Me? Really? Thank you.'"
The funny lady isn't concerned about wiping the smile off her fans' faces.
"I don't mind playing a hard character," she says of the abusive mother she portrays in the film. "It's acting."
The character of Mary is that of an abusive mother who takes out her own despair on her pregnant and illiterate 16-year-old, Clareece "Precious" Jones (played by newcomer Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe). The teenager has been repeatedly raped by her father and has a disabled daughter by him. But Precious still sees some sort of light at the end of her journey and despite her mother's vehement protests enrolls in an alternative school to learn to read.
The film, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, also features Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz and Sherri Shepherd.
Director Lee Daniels ("Monster's Ball") says it wasn't an odd casting choice to place Mo'Nique in a pivotal role.
"I saw her in the film 'Shadowboxer' and I knew that she would give Mary a human face," Daniels says. "I still said to her at the start, 'I don't know if you will want to do this movie. Mary is a monster. Don't be mad at me when you read it.'"
Mo'Nique didn't hesitate, and now there is buzz that she is being considered for other serious dramatic roles.
"I'm not looking at any expectations or because this movie happened another movie should happen," she says. "This was a very special movie that did happen for me and I'm grateful."
Meanwhile, Mo'Nique is passing the time as hostess of a new BET talk show titled "The Mo'Nique Show," which features A-list celebrity guests and musical performances. It is definitely the lighter side of Mo'Nique.
"Do you like having a good time?" she asks. "Do you like feeling good before you go to sleep? Do you like having joy in your heart? Do you like a little hug before you close your eyes?
"I'm here to give that little hug."
And to provide the laughs -- something she's been doing since she was a child.
"I don't think that we find out that we are funny. I think it just happens. I think it's just who you are. I don't think you can make a comedian. I think it's in your blood.
"It wasn't always cute, though, because I would say some things that were out of order in front of adults. Even if I got in trouble, I would think, 'Well, did they laugh?'
"I like a good time," she says. "Now, keep in mind that if we make each other smile, it will be contagious. You won't even know why the hell you start laughing. That's always been part of who Mo'Nique is as an artist.
"I want to make one person laugh and then it catches on."
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