NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The world was robbed of an extraordinary talent in 2012 and has yet to recover. Whitney Houston was a gift and while life took a drastic turn for her, there should never be a dark cloud over her accomplishments. While singing was what drew us to her, Houston was on her way to becoming a Hollywood success.
In her debut movie, The Bodyguard in 1992, Houston not only shared the screen with heavyweight Kevin Costner, she stole the show. Who knew? When it was announced she would be the leading lady, they were gripes. Could she do it? There were rumors of a diva mindset but Whitney Houston was a rare breed.
While critics wrote that role off as being too close to home as her character Rachel Marron played a hard-to-get-along-with singer, many believed that she would be put in a box as far as Hollywood goes. They were wrong. She not only put on a marvelous display of acting talent, but she also set the foundation for more roles to come. Houston was just getting started.
Her next big feature role was in Waiting To Exhale in 1995. Once again, Houston had to share the screen with another heavyweight in Angela Bassett. While the storyline focused more on Bassett’s character Bernadine, Whitney still shined as Savannah. Two movies in and two great performances, what was next to come?
Following the success of Waiting To Exhale, Whitney took another stab at the big screen in 1996 as Julia in The Preacher’s Wife. Once again, she had to share the screen with another iconic actor, this time it was Denzel Washington.
It wasn’t about the Box Office draw with Whitney Houston. She was one of the first to step outside of that box and prove to Hollywood that the line could be crossed. Those who said that she may come across as impossible to work with had to take a step back and give credit to the singer who was making a name for herself in Hollywood. The light was shining bright on Whitney Houston.
Following the success of the family-friendly film with Washington, Whitney decided to take on an iconic role in a classic story– Cinderella which also starred Brandy. Not sure if Hollywood or fans of the fairytale were quite ready for the spin the singer was ready to add. However, the movie was a success in 1997 way before adding African-Americans in roles that were perceived to be for different ethnic groups was a thing as it is today.
And then, in her last role, she stepped in front of the camera one last time before her death in Sparkle. Everyone would love to have a crystal ball and see the future. If we did, maybe, just maybe things could have turned out differently. Whitney Houston was iconic when she was alive, and even in death, she still is the Queen of any genre of music. But for a good stretch, Houston made her mark in Hollywood. While not as big as she was behind a mic, her time was coming. She had the dedication it took to make it possible, she just ran out of time.
