Andra Day Reveals She Started Drinking & Smoking, Lost Nearly 40 Pounds For Billie Holiday Role

Andra Day Reveals She Started Drinking & Smoking, Lost Nearly 40 Pounds For Billie Holiday Role

Rise Up singer Andra Day took her role as Billie Holiday in Hulu’s The United States v. Billie Holiday very seriously.

Andra Day, 36, revealed to actor Leslie Odom, Jr. on Variety’s Actors on Actors feature, just how far she went to tap into the late singer.

“I basically abused my body for a long time. I’m joking and not really joking.” 

Andra Day, who secured the role in 2018, added:

“I put my family through it; I put myself through it. I went from 163 pounds to 124 pounds. I would talk like her and I don’t drink or smoke, but I started smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Not that I recommend people do this; I just was desperate because this is my first role.” 

The movie tells the story of Billie Holiday when she was the subject of an investigation via an undercover sting operation as she battled substance abuse issues. The Grammy-nominated singer continued and said,

“I just asked God to give me all of the pain and trauma. I asked him to give me her pain and give me her trauma.”

The United States vs. Billie Holiday debuts on Hulu on Feb. 25.

What do you think about how far Andra Day went for the role? Comment and let us know.