Bessie

Queen Latifah

as Bessie Smith

Kamryn Johnson

as Young Bessie

Rikki McKinney

as Chorus Guy

Alan T. Coleman

as Stagehand

Tory Kittles

as Clarence

Clay Chappell

as '81' Theatre Owner

Tika Sumpter

as Lucille

Sharan C. Mansfield

as Miss Taylor

Neko Parham

as Rehearsal Director

Onira Tarés

as Chorus Girl

Jhoni Davis

as Chorus Girl

Jim R. Coleman

as Host

Melissa Youngblood

as Theatergoer

Mo'Nique

as Ma Rainey

Jennifer Sears

as Ma's Main Girl

Charles S. Dutton

as William 'Pa' Rainey

Briana Starks

as Ma's Dancer

Todd Allen Durkin

as Nightclub Manager

Crystal Lee Brown

as Bessie's Dancer

Hunter Womack

as Roadie

Christopher Harvey

as Roadie

Tia Hendricks

as Doreen Dupree

Marie Burke

as Etta Johnson

Michael Kenneth Williams

as Jack Gee

Terence Rosemore

as Detroit Theater Manager

Karri Mack

as Wild Child

Kaden Washington Lewis

as Swarm Boy

Khandi Alexander

as Viola

L. Warren Young

as Sharkish Man

Saundra Dunson-Franks

as Hostess

Bralyn Stokes

as Harry Herbert Pace

Cj Sykes

as Black Swan Executive

Adebukola Bodunrin

as Black Swan Receptionist

Joe Knezevich

as Frank Walker

Mike Epps

as Richard

Troy Faruk

as Brave Man

David Paul Lord

as Klansman

Chris Walters

as Doorman

Jessejames Locorriere

as Vanity Fair Editor

Oliver Platt

as Carl Van Vechten

Whitney Goin

as Fania Van Vechten

Jeremie Harris

as Langston Hughes

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

as Gertrude

Sylvester Ambrose James II

as Jack Gee Jr.

Bryan Greenberg

as John Hammond

Levi Erik

as Benny Goodman

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

as Gangster

Tim McAdams

as Shady Guy

Kenny Banks Jr.

as Bessie's Band Member

Michael Burton

as Bessie's Band Member

Roderick Harris

as Bessie's Band Member

John A. Harvey

as Bessie's Band Member

Reggie Hines

as Bessie's Band Member

Kevin Kendrick

as Bessie's Band Member

Marcus Lewis

as Bessie's Band Member

Kenneth Murray Jr.

as Bessie's Band Member

Kwame Paige

as Bessie's Band Member

Jason Passmore

as Bessie's Band Member

Daniel Saintil

as Bessie's Band Member

Craig Shaw

as Bessie's Band Member

Don C. Sherow

as Bessie's Band Member

Dashiel Smith

as Bessie's Band Member

Eric Solomon

as Bessie's Band Member

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

as Bessie's Band Member

Teddy White

as Bessie's Band Member

Wilbert Williams

as Bessie's Band Member

Brandon Boone

as Ma's Band Member

Robert Boone

as Ma's Band Member

Daniel Terence Harper

as Ma's Band Member

Anton Harris

as Ma's Band Member

Jody Mayfield

as Ma's Band Member

Derrick B. White

as Ma's Band Member

Edward Wright

as Ma's Band Member

Jonathan Bryant

as Dancer

Heather Bland

as Dancer

Raquiah Carter

as Dancer

Lauren Debrick

as Dancer

Desiree Dixon

as Dancer

Anthony Hart

as Dancer

Nia Lancelin

as Dancer

Keshia McNeal

as Dancer

Samara Michelle

as Dancer

LaVaughn Morton

as Dancer

Tiffany Murray

as Dancer

Ashley Neal

as Dancer

Tiffany Norris

as Dancer

Christopher L. Plunkett

as Dancer

Stephan Reynolds

as Dancer

Nateli Ruiz

as Dancer

Primas Leon Stanley

as Dancer

Brentney Stephens

as Dancer

Dacia Stinson

as Dancer

Fred Swinton

as Dancer

Sheerod Tate

as Dancer

Quiantae Thomas

as Dancer

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

as Dancer

Kendre White

as Dancer

Selah Avery

as Background Extra (uncredited)

Perry Ball

as Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

Qualen Bradley

as Stage Crew (uncredited)

Alkoya Brunson

as Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Jeffery James Bucchino

as Doorman (uncredited)

Judy McGee Burley

as Extra (uncredited)

Jess Marie Carr

as Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

Jameson Jamey Copeland

as Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

Taurus Davis

as Extra (uncredited)

Dino Demitri

as KKK Driver (uncredited)

Derrick Dee

as Bodyguard (uncredited)

Shannon Edwards

as Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

Tyrone Emanuel

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Samuel Lee Fudge

as Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

Adella Gautier

as Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Curtis Gordon

as Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

Montice Harmon

as Party Goer (uncredited)

Rob Hays

as Server (uncredited)

Sarah Turner Holland

as Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

Damita Jane Howard

as Jack's Lover (uncredited)

Geoffrey Howard

as Poker Player (uncredited)

Charlie Johnson

as Party Goer (uncredited)

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

as Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

Andre Lamar

as Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Trey McGriff

as Pedestrian (uncredited)

Lanier McKinney

as Dancer (uncredited)

John Merical

as VIP Guest (uncredited)

Dan Michael

as Theater Goer (uncredited)

Letecia Reeder

as Patron (uncredited)

Swift Rice

as Stage Hand (uncredited)

Darrell L. Shuler

as Club Goer (uncredited)

Alexis Silvestre

as Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

Nicole Spiezio

as Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

Dorothea Syleos

as Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Tray Williams

as Stage Crew (uncredited)