FKA Twigs is set to star in a highly anticipated biopic about Josephine Baker, the iconic American-born entertainer who rose to international fame in Paris during the roaring 1920s.
The announcement arrived on Monday, just ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. The project will be helmed by French filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, known for her work on the coming-of-age drama Cuties, with production scheduled to begin this fall.
“I cannot wait to embody Josephine Baker, bringing her fight, her love, her losses, her talent, and her heroism to the big screen,” the Grammy-winning artist said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, ground-breaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today.”
This role marks another significant step in the acting career of FKA Twigs. While continuing to excel in her music career—most recently winning the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for Eusexua—she has steadily built an impressive filmography. Her previous credits include Honey Boy, The Carpenter’s Son, and the A24 thriller Mother Mary, where she starred alongside Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel.
Development of the Josephine Baker project has been underway since last May, with the full support of Baker’s family. Baker remains a defining figure of the Jazz Age, celebrated for her striking aesthetic and revolutionary dance style.
Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906, Baker transitioned from Vaudeville stages to the heart of Paris in 1925. Her signature routine, Danse Sauvage, in which she performed in a iconic banana skirt, propelled her to global stardom. In 1927, she made history as the first Black woman to star in a major feature film, Siren of the Tropics.
Beyond her contributions to entertainment, Baker was a dedicated activist. She served in the French Resistance during World War II and was a vocal participant in the U.S. civil rights movement during the 1960s. She passed away in April 1975 at the age of 68.