Raven Goodwin (The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel) has been tapped to play legendary Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to ever win the award, in an indie biopic titled Behind the Smile.
The biopic will follow the inspiring story of McDaniel, who played Mammy in 1939’s Gone With the Wind. Although the role has earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, she was still not allowed to sit with her peers during the ceremony. The actress has encountered racism throughout her career. She also faced a backlash from the Black community for playing stereotypical roles of slaves and maids on the big screen.
Goodwin took it to social media to express her excitement. In a recent Instagram post, she said, “This is WILD! So happy to announce that I’ll be portraying THE Hattie McDaniel. This is so meaningful— in so many ways! Just know I’m ready to take on the responsibility! Much love!!!”
There is no director attached to the project at this time. Stay tuned for more details!
