Janelle Monáe is truly a rare talent, excelling in both music and cinema. Her debut full-length album, The ArchAndroid, was a concept album where Monáe cast herself as an android named Cindy Mayweather, showcasing her theatrical flare from the very beginning. Monáe’s foray into the film industry began with her voiceover role in the animated film Rio 2, which led her to be selective in choosing her movie projects. With her recent musical output, The Age of Pleasure, streaming since June 9, let’s take a look at some of Janelle Monáe’s most outstanding movie roles to date.
7. Lady and the Tramp (2019)
In the remake of the classic animated film, Lady and the Tramp, Janelle Monáe delivers a beautiful rendition of “He’s a Tramp” in the role of street dog Peg. Though the movie brings nothing new to the table, Monáe’s performance feels novel and elevates what could have been a mediocre movie.
6. The Glorias (2020)
In The Glorias, a biopic based on Gloria Steinem’s memoir Life on the Road, Janelle Monáe plays Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a friend of Steinem and a famous feminist activist in her own right. While Monáe’s screen time is limited, she gives a fantastic performance, and the film’s unique approach to storytelling keeps it from feeling predictable.
5. Harriet (2019)
Monáe portrays Marie, the daughter of a freed slave and owner of the Philadelphia boarding house Harriet moves into as a free woman, in the biographical film, Harriet. Although the film’s retelling of Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary life is not perfect, Monáe’s scenes, as always, steal the spotlight with her exceptional performance.
4. Dirty Computer [Emotion Picture] (2018)
Dirty Computer’s 49-minute short film is an ambitious science fiction masterpiece in which Janelle Monáe plays an android named Jane 57281. The film is a powerful visual counterpart to the equally amazing album and is a celebration of polyamorous and queer love, with Tessa Thompson as Monáe’s love interest.
3. Hidden Figures (2016)
Monáe makes her feature film debut in Hidden Figures and gives a firecracker performance as Mary Jackson, an underappreciated “computer” leading NASA’s efforts to get a man on the moon. Monáe’s portrayal of Jackson’s struggles as a Black woman in 1960s America and her fight for education is nothing short of remarkable.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
In Glass Onion, Janelle Monáe stars as Andi Brand, a former friend and business partner of billionaire Miles Bron. Monáe gives an impressively varied performance in this whodunit, and her scenes with Daniel Craig are outstanding.
1. Moonlight (2016)
Moonlight, a coming-of-age film, family drama, and Queer love story, tells the breathtakingly beautiful story of a young Black man in three parts. Monáe’s feature film debut as Teresa, the girlfriend of local drug dealer Juan, is a role that perfectly showcases her nurturing and comforting presence, establishing her as a pro in her first live-action performance.
Janelle Monáe is without a doubt one of the rare few performers who excel in both music and film, and her unique performances have made her one of the most sought-after artists in the industry today. Whether it’s music or cinema, she continues to create outstanding work that resonates with audiences worldwide.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
