Lee Daniels Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets
23rd November 2016
Fact: Moviemaker Lee Daniels is set for an early Christmas gift next week (02Dec16) when he unveils the 2,595th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His Precious leading lady Gabourey Sidibe will be among those saluting him at the ceremony.
6th February 2016
Quote: "If you're doing a job for an Oscar, you're doing the wrong job. Do it for the art. I don't wait for people to give me anything." Lee Daniels, creator of the drama series Empire, gives his opinion on the ongoing Oscars diversity controversy at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday (05Feb16).
14th October 2015
Fact: Filmmakers Lee Daniels, Rob Marshall and Megan Ellison are to be presented with inaugural Patron of the Artists Awards at the Screen Actors Guild Foundation's 30th Anniversary Celebration next month (05Nov15). The trophy honours "industry leaders who are champions of the arts" and recognises individuals whose "history of fostering creativity and creating opportunities for actors has made a positive impact on the acting profession and the performing arts".
16th September 2015
Quote: "That poor boy. He ain't done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's some f**kin' demon. That's a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America." Director Lee Daniels on the domestic abuse issues facing his Empire leading man Terrence Howard, who has confessed to lashing out at his ex-wives in a new Rolling Stone article.
16th September 2015
Fact: Comedian Chris Rock will portray an incarcerated cannibal in the new season of TV drama Empire. Rock's character will be an inmate in the same jail where the show's leading man, Lucious Lyon, is serving time - and his crime will turn fans' stomachs. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter the executives were turned off by one grotesque scene featuring Rock's character with a plate of human body parts before him. The publication suggests the comic agreed to reshoot some of his scenes over the summer (15) to appease network TV chiefs.
3rd March 2015
Quote: "I've always directed in my pyjamas. I was overweight. I've lost, like, 60 pounds, and so that was the primary reason, but you know, it was just freeing, I was able to do my thing. But I still direct in my pyjamas after losing the weight; I just get them tailored in, because it liberates me." Filmmaker Lee Daniels prefers to work in his sleepwear.
3rd March 2015
Quote: "My boyfriend was so nervous about me coming here tonight because I had a crush on you! And then I found out you got a wife and everything, and I said (to his boyfriend), 'Shut up man, another one bites the dust.'" Director Lee Daniels confesses to a secret crush on comedian Seth Meyers during an appearance on his U.S. talk show LATE NIGHT WITH Seth Meyers.
24th February 2015
Fact: Mary J. Blige has become the latest star to land a guest role on Lee Daniels' hit new music drama Empire. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Hudson, Courtney Love and Rita Ora have also secured appearances on the Tv show, which stars Terrence Howard as a dying hip-hop mogul and Taraji P. Henson as his ex-wife.
12th February 2015
Quote: "I have all these friends that know the producer, Lee Daniels, and a wonderful man and a great director... So many friends over the years have said, 'Get in touch with Lee.' I didn't wanna stalk him or anything, but I had this friend who one night said, 'Lee was talking about you last night. Here's his number', and so I texted him and a minute later he called me and he said, 'I think I have a role for you.' I mean, (it was) meant to be. It's crazy." Courtney Love reached out to filmmaker Lee Daniels on the advice of mutual pals after learning he was a big fan of her work. The call resulted in the rocker being cast in a recurring role in his new Tv drama series Empire.
4th November 2014
Fact: Filmmaker Lee Daniels will head the jury panel for this year's (14) Dubai Film Festival's Muhr competition. The festival will begin on 10 December (14) and films including Daoud Abdel Sayed's Out Of The Ordinary, Yacine Mohamed Benelhadj's I'm Dead and Hicham Lasri's The Sea is Behind will compete for the top prize. A statement from The Butler director reads: "I'm thrilled to be visiting the Emirates for the first time and to have the privilege of being part of the Dubai International Film Festival's jury."
11th October 2013
Fact: Filmmaker Lee Daniels has been named the recipient of the 2013 Visionary Award at gay arts festival Outfest in Los Angeles. The Butler director will be recognised for his contribution to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture at a gala on 21 November (13).
15th August 2013
Fact: Director Lee Daniels' is planning to host a special screening of his new movie Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER for U.S. President Barack Obama and his family. The movie is based on the story of a real life White House butler and features Orlando Eric Street playing Obama.
12th August 2013
Fact: Director Lee Daniels wore pyjamas every day to the set of his new historical drama The Butler so he could work in complete comfort.
31st July 2013
Quote: "I showed the film to my relatives... because I figured they’re the harshest of audiences, and my 30-year-old nephew said to me, ‘Did some of this stuff really happen?’ I was very upset by that." Filmmaker Lee Daniels was taken aback by a young relative's reaction to his new period race drama The Butler.
21st January 2013
Quote: "Nic showed up with black and blue bruises all over her legs. I said, 'You crazy b**ch, go put some make-up on your legs." Moviemaker Lee Daniels on the lengths Nicole Kidman went to while filming a rough sex scene with John Cusack in 2012 film The Paperboy.
30th March 2010
Quote: "They're at that age where they're slamming doors, they're unimpressed, embarrassed, and it's not a big deal." Lee Daniels admits his two teenage children aren't impressed by his Best Director Oscar nomination for PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE.
2nd February 2010
Quote: "I am celebrating this moment with the world... I'm so excited for Gabby, for me, for the picture because this project was done as such a labour of love so we're all just very excited and so appreciative." PRECIOUS star MO'NIQUE is delighted after landing her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Her co-star Gabourey Sidibe also earned a nod for Best Actress in a Leading Role, while filmmaker Lee Daniels is up for Best Director and the movie will compete for the Best Picture Oscar.
18th January 2010
Quote: "Mariah was born as an embryo in stiletto heels. She walks - even in her home - on her f**king toenails! I said: 'This woman is not going to work if you're walking like Princess Tippy Toes.'" Filmmaker Lee Daniels banned Mariah Carey from walking in her staple high heels while shooting PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE.
7th January 2010
Quote: “I can’t believe I just busted it for her. She did not want the hair dyed, then she wanted blush, lipstick. I gave her a little nail polish but that’s it. She was a wreck. I put her in rayon and polyester and her little hands were shaking. What’s that about? Mariah, get over yourself.” Director Lee Daniels on Mariah Carey's dressed down look in new movie PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE.
6th November 2009
Quote: "It wasn’t just the director in me, but the big brother torturing his sister. This was just to irritate her. At what point would she start screaming and run up out of this chair?" Lee Daniels on making Mariah Carey look plain in his movies TENNESSEE and PRECIOUS.
Lee Daniels
