The United States vs. Billie Holiday

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

131 mins | Drama, History, Music | March 31, 2021

Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit."

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

131 mins | Drama, History, Music | March 31, 2021

The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit."
IMDb rating 6.3
Producers Lee Daniels Entertainment, RK films
Original title The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Directors Ami Diakité, Harris Ellison, Fanny Hudon, Shanna Roberts Salée, Elizabeth Tremblay, H.H. Cooper, Lee Daniels
Writers Johann Hari, Suzan-Lori Parks

Cast

Andra Day

as Billie Holiday

Trevante Rhodes

as Jimmy Fletcher

Garrett Hedlund

as Harry Anslinger

Leslie Jordan

as Reginald Lord Devine

Miss Lawrence

as Miss Freddy

Adriane Lenox

as Mrs. Fletcher

Natasha Lyonne

as Tallulah Bankhead

Rob Morgan

as Louis McKay

Evan Ross

as Agent Williams

Tyler James Williams

as Lester 'Prez' Young

Tone Bell

as John Levy

Blake DeLong

as Agent Carter

Dana Gourrier

as Sadie

Melvin Gregg

as Joe Guy

Erik LaRay Harvey

as James Monroe

Ray Shell

as Carl The Drummer

Dusan Dukic

as Joe Glaser

Koumba Ball

as Lucille

Kate MacLellan

as Working Class Woman

Kwasi Songui

as Working Class Man

Letitia Brookes

as Velva

Warren 'Slim' Williams

as Bobby Tucker

Orville Thompson

as Auditioning Sax Player

Jeff Corbett

as Congressman JP Thomas

Damian Joseph Quinn

as Roy Cohn

Robert Alan Beuth

as Congressman J. Rankin

Randy Davison

as Senator J. McCarthy

Kevin Hanchard

as Louis Armstrong

Jono Townsend

as Guitar Player

Morgan Moore

as Bass Player

Arlen John Bonnar

as Priest

Furly Mac

as Elevator Attendant

Andrew Zadel

as Agent McDermott

Tristan D. Lalla

as Mr. Jordon Green

Alex Bisping

as Bailiff #1

Don Anderson

as Judge Ganey

Amanda Strawn

as Gloria

Charleine Charles

as Shirley

Sylvia Stewart

as Stink-Eye Inmate

Daphné Archer

as Jail Dishwasher

Anita Lee

as Fighting Woman

Tony Chao

as Fighting Man

Linda Sauvé

as Receptionist

Alain Goulem

as Ed Fishman

Ramona Clyke

as Miss Mona

Laurent Beaudin

as Ed Fishman's Assistant

Alika Autran

as Martha Anslinger

Kim Feeney

as Lady In Audience

Diana Carmen Ratycz

as Carnegie Fan

Richard Jutras

as Uptown Restaurant Maître d'

Jonathan Higgins

as Defense Lawyer Erlich

Marc Essertaize

as Bailiff #2

Nealla Gordon

as Courthouse Reporter

Len Blavatnik

as Club Owner

Christopher Ricardo Price

as Drug Dealer

Taryn Brown

as Billie (10 years old)

Zuri Hawkins

as Little Girl in Brothel

Elizabeth Eveillard

as Prostitute 1923

Clauter Alexandre

as Husband

Penande Estime

as Hanging Woman

Elikya Tupula

as Young Daughter

Joe Cobden

as George Jessel

Ronda Louis-Jeune

as Jimmy's Girlfriend

Maxime Paradis

as Producer

Sarah Levesque

as Nurse

Donald Fullilove

as Additional Voices (voice)