‘Wasn’t getting the roles that white counterparts were getting, know that woman before you judge’ - Monnique

Mo'nique is now an household name love by many, inspiring, gave hope to black women, not just any black women but big women who thinks the entertainment industry is no longer an option. As The Hollywood Reporter recognises the 75th anniversary of McDaniel’s historic win, we speak at length with Mo’Nique about her debt to her movie-star idol, her memories of her

own Oscar night and the dramatic turn her career has taken in the five years since. Director Lee Daniels put it to her in a recent phone call, “Mo’Nique, you’ve been blackballed.”

How do you respond to those who criticise Hattie McDaniel for only taking maid roles?

If they knew who this woman really was, they would say, “Let me shut my mouth.” If they really understood the fights behind the scenes, the conversations we’ll never have the opportunity to hear. And then you say to those people, “Well, tell me what other roles were available.” Because what she was was an actress — and at that time, she wasn’t getting the roles that her white counterparts were getting. She was saying, “I’m an actress. When you say ‘cut,’ I’m not [a maid anymore].” So I say to those people: know that woman in full before you judge.

Is that what you meant in your acceptance speech about her enduring everything she had to go through so that you would not have to?

Do you know I keep a picture of Hattie McDaniel in my closet in an 8-by-10 frame? As I’m looking at her right now, it looks like her smile is shifting. Yes, I’m talking about you, Miss Hattie McDaniel! (Laughs.) What that woman had to endure was criticism from the white community and the black community. She didn’t have options to say, “No, I’m not going to accept that,” because she was an actress. I’m just grateful. I’m appreciative that she endured all of that so that this little girl named Mo’Nique wouldn’t have to.

Did you face the same kinds of criticisms about your role in Precious, that it put the wrong kinds of images out there? You’ve said in the past it was a difficult decision to take the part.

It was never a hard decision for me to take that role. When I got that script from Lee Daniels, by the time I got to page 10, I called him and said, “Lee, what the hell is this? What is this?” And I said, “Listen — if we do what’s on this paper, we can help save lives.” When the movie came out, some people were saying, “Why would Mo’Nique do that role?” And, you know, people are always going to talk. But the reason why I accepted that role is because I knew that woman. I knew her. And I felt like, if we really tell this story, that people will come out and get help and get healed. So yes there was criticism, but it didn’t affect me the way that it did Hattie, because she had endured it for me. By the time it got to me, you know how they say, “Let it roll off your shoulder”? It was rolling off the shoulder.