Beyoncé at 19: Nervous Audition for Her First Film Role Revealed!
BEYONCÉ: FROM SHAKING LIKE A LEAF TO SHINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Queen Bey, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, is still giving us life with her latest achievements and upcoming projects! But, did you know that the 43-year-old pop sensation was once a nervous wreck during her first-ever acting audition? Yes, you read that right! The 19-year-old Beyoncé was about to make her acting debut in MTV's 2001 made-for-TV movie, Carmen: A Hip Hopera, and it didn't exactly go smoothly.
According to director Robert Townsend, who has worked with the likes of Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, Beyoncé was "shaking like a leaf" during the audition. Townsend, now 68, recalled the moment in an interview on Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe last Tuesday, saying: "She's got her head of A&R to make sure to protect her client. She's got security with her." It seemed like Beyoncé was trying to keep up appearances while hiding behind her entourage.
But, what really happened during that audition? Townsend revealed that when he asked Beyoncé to read for the role of Carmen Brown, she started shaking even more! "I can see she's nervous, like, really nervous - shaking and everything," he said. To ease her nerves, Townsend enlisted the help of two people to read lines alongside Beyoncé during the audition. Guess what? They both got nervous too!
This is when the magic happened. As Beyoncé watched her co-readers get flustered, she suddenly regained her composure and started delivering a stunning performance. "And then she was watching them get nervous. And then she got stronger," Townsend noted. "And so then I said, 'Oh, there it is. Oh, there it is.' And then she was like, 'Can we do it again? Can we do it again? And can I do the death scene?'"
Beyoncé even gamely rolled around on the ground in her Christian Louboutin "red bottom" heels, pretending to be shot for the scene. It's no wonder Townsend exclaimed, "Watching her blossom into the superstar that she has become, I saw it in that room." He added, "Because there's certain actors, actresses, first audition, they wouldn't go all the way there. She went all the way there."
And, guess what? Despite criticism for her dialogue delivery and praise for her singing, Beyoncé nailed her role as seductive aspiring actress Carmen Brown! The film also featured a star-studded cast, including Mekhi Phifer, Mos Def, Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Da Brat, Joy Bryant, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil' Bow Wow.
Carmen: A Hip Hopera was based on Otto Preminger's 1954 Oscar-nominated film Carmen Jones starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. The movie originated from the 1943 Broadway musical, which itself was inspired by the 1875 opera Carmen. Talk about a rich history!
Beyoncé's acting career didn't take off immediately after Carmen: A Hip Hopera. She made her big-screen debut in Jay Roach's comedy three-quel Austin Powers in Goldmember in 2002, playing undercover spy Foxxy Cleopatra alongside Mike Myers and Beyoncé's then-husband, Jay-Z (now a rap mogul). The film grossed $296.9M at the box office despite receiving dismal reviews.
Since then, Beyoncé has appeared in numerous films, including The Fighting Temptations (2003), Dreamgirls (2006), The Pink Panther (2006), Cadillac Records (2008), Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (2009), Epic (2013), and The Lion King (2019). She even lent her voice to Mufasa: The Lion King (2024).
The Queen Bey is set to celebrate her 44th birthday on Thursday, following the conclusion of her record-breaking $407.6M-grossing Cowboy Carter Tour on July 26. With three beautiful children - daughter Blue, 13, and fraternal twins Sir & Rumi, 8 - from her 17-year marriage to Jay-Z (now a billionaire), Beyoncé's life is one big happy family.
But, what about the latest news? Beyoncé and Jay-Z have reportedly purchased a stunning 58-acre plot of farmland in the Cotswolds, worth $11.5M, to build a lavish country retreat - according to The Mirror. Talk about a dream home!
And, guess what's next? This weekend, Knowles-Carter will accept her first-ever Emmy trophy at the 77th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for her Netflix special, Beyoncé Bowl! She won outstanding costumes for variety, nonfiction, or reality programming alongside her collaborators Shiona Turini, Erica Rice, Molly Peters, Chelsea Staebell, and Timothy White. The Queen Bey also scored a nomination for outstanding directing for a variety special at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, which air September 14 on CBS/Paramount+.
We can't wait to see what's next for this talented superstar!
