Former America’s Next Top Model runner up, 31-year-old Yaya Dacosta is set to play musical sensation Whitney Houston in a television biopic to be released in 2015.
The model turned actress has had roles in several movies such as The Butler and has guest starred in hit TV shows such as House and Ugly Betty, her role as the 7 time Grammy winner, will most likely be her most challenging so far. The question of everyone’s mind is can (and will) Yaya sing?
While Whitney fans are at least somewhat excited about the upcoming Lifetime movie, the singer’s family are not too happy about the announcement, telling celebrity news site TMZ that the acclaimed musician deserves much more than a TV movie and Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law stated:
‘Whitney is certainly worthy of more than a television movie. If Whitney were here today, this would not be happening.’
The film, which will be directed by Angela Bassett who has played many biographical characters herself, including civil rights activist Rosa Parks and singer Tina Turner, will chronicle the tumulus relationship between Whitney and her ex-husband Bobby Brown.
In a statement announcing the film Bassett who starred alongside Houston in the 1998b film Waiting To Exhale said “I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments; and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story. Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I’m beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world.”
