by Tim Gordon
Oscar winner Regina King returns as political trailblazer Shirey Chisolm in the upcoming biopic, Shirley. The film will chronicle her groundbreaking run for president of the United States.
In 1972, Chisholm became the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for president and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. But she was already a pioneer: She became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, several years earlier in 1968. Chisholm represented New York’s 12th congressional district, a district centered on Bedford–Stuyvesant, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. Throughout her career, she was known for taking “a resolute stand against economic, social, and political injustices,” as well as being a strong supporter of Black civil rights and women’s rights.
In addition to winning an Oscar, King is a distinguished and respected actress and director. She has received various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and six Black Reel Awards. In 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Written and directed by Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), Shirley stars King, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, Reina King with André Holland and Terrence Howard.
Shirley debuts on Netflix, on March 22, 2024.
You can see King’s transformation to portray Chisholm below:
