Bessie

Bessie Smith

Queen Latifah

Young Bessie

Kamryn Johnson

Chorus Guy

Rikki McKinney

Stagehand

Alan T. Coleman

Clarence

Tory Kittles

'81' Theatre Owner

Clay Chappell

Lucille

Tika Sumpter

Miss Taylor

Sharan C. Mansfield

Rehearsal Director

Neko Parham

Chorus Girl

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl

Jhoni Davis

Host

Jim R. Coleman

Theatergoer

Melissa Youngblood

Ma Rainey

Mo'Nique

Ma's Main Girl

Jennifer Sears

William 'Pa' Rainey

Charles S. Dutton

Ma's Dancer

Briana Starks

Nightclub Manager

Todd Allen Durkin

Bessie's Dancer

Crystal Lee Brown

Roadie

Hunter Womack

Roadie

Christopher Harvey

Doreen Dupree

Tia Hendricks

Etta Johnson

Marie Burke

Jack Gee

Michael Kenneth Williams

Detroit Theater Manager

Terence Rosemore

Wild Child

Karri Mack

Swarm Boy

Kaden Washington Lewis

Viola

Khandi Alexander

Sharkish Man

L. Warren Young

Hostess

Saundra Dunson-Franks

Harry Herbert Pace

Bralyn Stokes

Black Swan Executive

Cj Sykes

Black Swan Receptionist

Adebukola Bodunrin

Frank Walker

Joe Knezevich

Richard

Mike Epps

Brave Man

Troy Faruk

Klansman

David Paul Lord

Doorman

Chris Walters

Vanity Fair Editor

Jessejames Locorriere

Carl Van Vechten

Oliver Platt

Fania Van Vechten

Whitney Goin

Langston Hughes

Jeremie Harris

Gertrude

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Jack Gee Jr.

Sylvester Ambrose James II

John Hammond

Bryan Greenberg

Benny Goodman

Levi Erik

Gangster

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

Shady Guy

Tim McAdams

Bessie's Band Member

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

Ma'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

Dancer

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

Background Extra (uncredited)

Selah Avery

Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

Perry Ball

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Qualen Bradley

Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Alkoya Brunson

Doorman (uncredited)

Jeffery James Bucchino

Extra (uncredited)

Judy McGee Burley

Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

Jess Marie Carr

Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

Jameson Jamey Copeland

Extra (uncredited)

Taurus Davis

KKK Driver (uncredited)

Dino Demitri

Bodyguard (uncredited)

Derrick Dee

Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

Shannon Edwards

Party Guest (uncredited)

Tyrone Emanuel

Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

Samuel Lee Fudge

Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Adella Gautier

Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

Curtis Gordon

Party Goer (uncredited)

Montice Harmon

Server (uncredited)

Rob Hays

Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

Sarah Turner Holland

Jack's Lover (uncredited)

Damita Jane Howard

Poker Player (uncredited)

Geoffrey Howard

Party Goer (uncredited)

Charlie Johnson

Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Andre Lamar

Pedestrian (uncredited)

Trey McGriff

Dancer (uncredited)

Lanier McKinney

VIP Guest (uncredited)

John Merical

Theater Goer (uncredited)

Dan Michael

Patron (uncredited)

Letecia Reeder

Stage Hand (uncredited)

Swift Rice

Club Goer (uncredited)

Darrell L. Shuler

Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

Alexis Silvestre

Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

Nicole Spiezio

Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Dorothea Syleos

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Tray Williams