A film chronicling the life of singer, dancer, actress, activist, and Jazz Age icon Josephine Baker has been in development since 2022, with director Maïmouna Doucouré (Cuties, Hawa) at the helm. Reflecting on the project, Doucouré shared, “Josephine Baker has lived with me for years. Working on this film, I realize how modern, fearless and complex she was. Beyond the legend, I want to explore her contradictions, her wounds and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity.”
It was officially announced that FKA twigs will star as the titular icon in the still-untitled biopic, which is scheduled to begin production this fall. In a statement accompanying the casting news, twigs expressed her deep admiration for the subject: “Josephine Baker’s extraordinary legacy is such an inspiration to me and to so many people around the world. She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, groundbreaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today.”
This role marks another significant step in twigs’ burgeoning acting career. Her recent credits include a supporting role in Mother Mary, which stars Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel and features an original song by twigs titled “My Mouth is Lonely For You.” Additionally, she is set to appear in Boy Harsher’s directorial debut, The Lonely Woman, alongside a cast that includes Chloë Sevigny, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Sturgill Simpson. These projects follow her previous appearances in The Carpenter’s Son (2025) and The Crow (2024).
