Billie Holiday sang “All of Me” — and it took all of Andra Day to play the legendary jazz chanteuse. From her Lady Day-inspired …
Billie Holiday sang “All of Me” — and it took all of Andra Day to play the legendary jazz chanteuse. From her Lady Day-inspired stage name to her jazzy delivery and retro style, Day has spent years paying homage to Holiday. Now, the “Rise Up” singer is carrying her idol’s torch in a different way, portraying her in the new film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” premiering Feb.26 on Hulu. Still, she was “terrified” making her acting debut as the lady who sang the blues. “When I embarked on it, I was like, ‘This is such a bad idea! I’m not an actress.’ And I didn’t wanna ruin Billie’s legacy,” Day, born Cassandra Batie, told The Post. “But now I can look back and say, ‘You know what? Maybe this was supposed to be.’ ” Indeed, Day,36, has already won critical acclaim for her performance in the upcoming Lee Daniels-directed drama. She’s up for best actress in the dramatic film category at the Golden Globes on Feb.28 and is also generating Oscar buzz. But transforming herself into the “Strange Fruit” songstress was no holiday for Day. “There’s still a lot that I am working out in me from playing Billie,” said Day, who is also nominated for best original song at the Globes for her soundtrack tune “Tigress & Tweed.” “She gets in, you know what I mean? She gets ahold.” Whether it was battling a heroin addiction or being targeted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Holiday’s life was a struggle that required Day to go to some dark and difficult places.
