Loretta Devine Says Gregory Hines Told Her To Lose Weight To Move Up In Her Career

Loretta Devine Says Gregory Hines Told Her To Lose Weight To Move Up In Her Career

It is impossible to talk about Black cinema without mentioning Loretta Devine. 

In a new episode of TV One’s Uncensored, Loretta Devine, is opening up about working on Waiting To Exhale and working with the late Whitney Houston. 

Loretta Devine

While on the set of Waiting To Exhale, Loretta Devine said no one could stop Whitney Houston from singing, even between scenes. She added,

Whitney Houston circa 2011

“We were in Scottsdale, Arizona for like three months filming this movie and it had such a family feeling to it. And Whitney was always singing, you couldn’t stop her from singing.” 

She also said Whitney Houston, who passed in 2012, loved how proper Angela Bassett spoke and how much it would make her laugh. She continued speaking about the three times she worked with the late singer and how incredible she really was.

01/04/2018 – Angela Bassett – 2018 Winter TCA Tour

Devine also spoke about her experience working with the late Gregory Hines, who was singer, dancer, and actor. As co-stars she said,

“Gregory was so wonderful in so many ways. He was my leading man in Waiting To Exhale and he was the only man smart enough on my first day of shooting to have roses everywhere for me, and I always brag on him because nobody else did that.” 

She continued saying,

“I remember him telling me, ‘Now as soon as this movie is over you have to lose all the weight to move into the next category.’ I don’t know category that was because I never lost the weight like he talked about.” 

The Family Reunion star said that Waiting To Exhale changed her life after the movie’s release. She said,

“All of a sudden we were like the most popular people around. I mean people would just grab you. I’ve never been so scared to go outside.” 

Following the success of Waiting To Exhale, Loretta Devine went on to play some of the most memorable characters like Mrs. Taylor in Jumping The Broom, and Ma’Dere alongside Chris Brown and Regina King in This Christmas. 

What is your favorite character of Loretta Devine? Tell us in the comments.