Maya Angelou is an iconic figure in literature, and her work as a poet and memoirist has been celebrated all around the world. But did you know that she also had a brief career in films? Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Maya Angelou appeared in several films, often in uncredited or small roles. Here are some of the films in which she acted.
Maya Angelou first appeared in the 1940s classic Calypso Heat Wave, playing a nightclub singer. She then went on to appear in films such as George Stevens’s Something to Live For and The Giant of Marathon in 1949 and 1959, respectively. Most of her credited roles were in films starring Sidney Poitier, including Something of Value in 1957 and Bird of Paradise in 1961.
In 1961’s Once Upon a Triangle, she played a nightclub singer, and a year later, she showed off her dance moves in the musical All the Fine Young Cannibals. Maya Angelou also appeared in diverse films such as the award-winning Heart of a Woman in 1965 and The Liberation of L.B. Jones in 1970. Her last film was 1971’s Georgia, Georgia, in which she played a bar owner.
When asked about her film career, Angelou always deflected the question. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1994, she stated that she didn’t want her film career to be the most remembered thing about her. Her final film appearance was in the 1994 posthumous documentary Maya Angelou: The Poetess. This documentary featured Maya Angelou reading her poetry and talking about her life, which has helped to further cement her legacy.
So, as you can see, Maya Angelou had a brief yet memorable career in films. Although she may not have wanted to be remembered for her film roles, these films helped to showcase her talent and beauty to the world, and allowed us to get a glimpse into her life.
Theaarical roles
Maya Angelou was also fortunate enough to appear in some theatrical roles throughout her career. In 1959’s Adventures of a Young Man, based on the novel by Thomas Wolfe, she played the role of Grace, a woman who struggles to survive as a single mother. Angelou also starred alongside Sidney Poitier in the 1961 stage play, The Blacks, in an illustrious cast that also featured James Earl Jones, Godfrey Cambridge, and Ruby Dee.
Angelou’s other theatrical credits include a touring production of Marc Connelly’s The Green Pastures, a re-staging of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, and a revival of the one-act play Revival. She also made an appearance in a performance of The Messiah in 1978 at the Oakland Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her theatrical roles, Maya Angelou also appeared in a Broadway production of Cabaret in 1988 as the Nanny. This role earned her several awards, including a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her performance also earned glowing reviews from critics, who praised her poise, charisma, and stage presence.
May Angelou was also a frequent collaborator with American playwright Ntozake Shange. Shange wrote For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf, a choreopoem that Angelou performed in a number of productions. She even directed a production of the play in 1974, which won rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.
Directorial roles
Maya Angelou was more than just an actor and a poet, she also served as a director. In 1971, she wrote, directed, and starred in the film Georgia, Georgia, about a young girl who suffers from prejudice and abuse in her rural Georgia home. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1975, Angelou also directed a made-for-television movie called All Day Long, based on the play by Lanford Wilson. This film followed the lives of two young African-American women who work in a shopping mall, and it won an Emmy for its message about empowering African-American women. Angelou is also credited as having directed a few other made-for-television movies, including Unshackled in 1971 and The Killing Floor in 1984.
Angelou also wrote and directed several stage plays, including her award-winning And Still I Rise in 1976 and A Lesson Before Dying in 1985. In addition, she served as the artistic director for two shows at New York’s historic Savoy Ballroom in 1985 and 1986, No I Won’t Take You Back and The Why and The What For.
So you can see that Maya Angelou was more than just an actor. She was part of a larger artistic movement, and her work as a director, writer, and performer helped to further shape the way we think about art and culture today.
Behind the Scene
While Angelou is famously remembered and celebrated for her many roles as an actor, she was also involved in many other aspects of the film industry. She wrote music and lyrics for several films and served as a lyricist for the 1970 film Ranahan. Angelou wrote many of the compositions for director Robert Altman’s 1971 Vietnam War movie, Brewster McCloud.
Angelou worked as a script consultant for the 1972 film Buck and the Preacher, and she also acted as a script supervisor for the 1973 Blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones. She also served as a research assistant for the 1972 film A Woman Called Moses, which was based on the story of former slave Harriet Tubman.
Maya Angelou also wrote screenplays for several films, including the 1976 Blaxploitation film Lady Sings the Blues, which starred Diana Ross as Billie Holiday. She also penned the script for its follow-up, Billie, in 1978. Angelou also wrote the story and screenplay for the 1979 film Sisters in the Wilderness, which starred Cicely Tyson.
Although Angelou is often remembered for her acting, she also had a hand in many other facets of the film industry. From writing music to serving in various behind-the-scenes roles, her involvement in film was both expansive and impressive.
Legacy
Although Maya Angelou was only in the film industry for a brief period of time, her impact and legacy have endured. Many of her films, such as Cleopatra Jones and Georgia, Georgia, are now considered classic films and widely studied in film classes. Her influence can still be seen in modern films, particularly with the presence of strong, intelligent female characters.
In addition to her film legacy, Angelou is also remembered for her powerful words and her life lessons, which she imparted onto the world. Her iconic poem, Phenomenal Woman, is one of the most recognizable poems of the 20th century, and still resonates with readers to this day.
Angelou’s legacy continues to inspire writers, poets, and filmmakers alike. She may not have been the most famous Hollywood actress, but she certainly left a mark on the film industry. Her memory will linger on and continue to inspire people for generations to come.
