Beyonce Knowles has announced that she is embarking on a new challenge. The 34-year-old artist is determined to write and star in her own biopic about the troubled life of Saartjie Baartman or more commonly known as the Hottento Venus.
Baartman was a South African woman exploited in London freak shows during the late 1700s and early 1800s because of her large bottom. She was put out on public display against her will.
Her torture did not end with the freak shows. Even as she fought for her freedom from abuse, she was forced to exhibit her body in a court case. She ended up losing but her example became a reminder of the degradation, exploitation and violence placed on black women's bodies throughout history.
Centuries after her death, feminists and activists worked to remove her remains from display at the Musee de I'Homme in Paris to give her a proper burial in South Africa which occurred in 2002. The concerned groups also opened the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children which serves as a refuge for victims of domestic abuse.
According to a new report, Knowles has already started her film project by recruiting a staff of acting coaches and writers. She has not announced the release date of the biopic but the film is already gaining high expectations. Knowles' role as Baartman is far more substantial compared to her previous parts in films such as "Dreamgirls", "Obsessed" and "Austin Powers in Goldmember."
Sources also revealed that Knowles wants to be taken seriously as an actress. She believes that writing a screenplay and taking on a major role will allow her to make her mark in the film industry.
To produce a film with the potential of winning an Academy Award, sources also said that Knowles has been doing a lot of research through books on Baartman.
