Q: Several years ago, an actress won the Oscar for best supporting actress in the movie “Precious.” She said she was going to play Hattie McDaniel who played Mammy in “Gone With the Wind.” What happened to that actress?
—Jean Higgins, Atlanta
A: Mo'Nique, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her role as Mary in the movie "Precious," said last year that she still plans to make a movie about Hattie McDaniel. McDaniel was the first black to win an Academy Award for her role in "Gone With the Wind."
“Our lives are very similar – the fight that that woman had to go through,” Mo’Nique told the Westchester County, N.Y.’s Journal News in 2013. “She was criticized by both sides: her own community and the Hollywood community. When she won that Oscar, she said it cursed her career because they didn’t want to pay her the money that comes with the award. They kept her in those minimal roles. They didn’t allow her to really shine through for the amazing talent that she was. … I feel like the world needs to know the amazing woman that she was.”
Q: I saw a photo in the paper about the Battle of the Beards. I’d like to have more details on that.
—Gerald Wade, Stockbridge
A:
The Fourth Annual Battle of the Beards was held at Smith’s Olde Bar on Piedmont Avenue on Saturday. Contestants were judged on “Best Beard,” “Best ’Stache,” “Most Creative,” “Best Grooming” and “Lady Beard,” among other categories. Go to the competition’s Facebook page (
) for more information.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
