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Courtesy of NetflixMary J. Blige fans will find out if the superstar will win her first Oscar — or two — at the 90th Annual Academy Awards, airing Sunday on ABC.
The “No More Drama” singer is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Florence Jackson in the Netflix film Mudbound.
In addition, her track “Mighty River” is nominated for Best Original Song. Mary says her admiration for the film’s director, Dee Rees, convinced her to join the Netflix production.
“I’m a huge fan. I saw Bessie. I saw Pariah so many times,” Mary says of Rees’ previous movies.
“Just the way she tells a story. The [Mudbound] script was so amazing. And it’s really, really close to and relevant to how we’re living, the times we’re living in today, so…those are the things that really made me want to be a part of it.”
Mary also explains exactly how Rees’ storytelling talent affects her.
“After seeing Bessie and Pariah, just the way she peels all the layers back…you don’t even have to guess, it just gives me goosebumps right now,” she gushes.
“She always keeps a silver lining in so much darkness and turmoil. I think that’s beautiful. People don’t really make films like that. Really heavy, strong films like that never have a silver lining.”
In addition, Mary says her decades-long career as a recording artist “prepared” her for her Oscar-nominated Mudbound role.
“It’s another way for me to express myself,” she explains.
“You know, the way people say my songs move them or my lyrics move them? Hopefully, my acting will move them the way my songs move them.”
The Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air live in Los Angeles Sunday night on ABC, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
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