Known for her fierce personality and effortless sex appeal, Pam Grier has shown all sides of herself on screen. Although many have imitated her style — from her afro and feathered tresses to her front-tied blouses and bell bottoms — there’s only one Grier.
The star, who was once known as Jackie Brown director Quentin Tarantino’s “muse,” has acted in film and television for over 50 years, including notable flicks Black Mama, White Mama, Coffy, Foxy Brown, Sheba, Baby, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Just Wright and more. Some of her notable TV roles include The Love Boat, Miami Vice, The L Word and Smallville, amongst others.
The admiration for the actress and singer is heavy, as she’s also made countless appearances as herself, including on classic shows like Martin and In Living Color. She even played radio personalities for video games Grand Theft Auto V and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
As the North Carolina-native rings in her 74th birthday (May 26), it’s ideal to think of who could do her justice in her very own biopic one day. Whether it be acting skills, resemblance, or embodying her fierce persona, we believe the women below could play the iconic star.
Keep in mind, some of these women may not look exactly like the one-of-a-kind beauty, or have much experience on-camera. They do, however, posses her tenacity, show-stopping looks, and ability to tap into their inner “Foxy Brown.”
Here are 7 stars that we could see taking on the role of the legendary Pam Grier.
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Halle Berry
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images If there’s any woman that will give you versatility and excellence while doing so, it’s Hollywood A-lister and beloved actress Halle Berry. It was actually reported in 2020 that Grier would like Berry to play her if a biopic were to ever be green-lit.
Taking on the biopic of Grier would be a sight to see, as Berry has played many roles varying from a struggling drug addict trying to regain custody of her son to a struggling widower, all the way to a Marvel superhero. Berry has also taken on biopics before, as she’s channeled actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge and singer Zola Taylor in 1998’s Why Do Fools Fall In Love.
Amongst her many credits, Berry won an Academy Award for Monster‘s Ball, as well as a Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.
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Salli Richardson Whitfield
Image Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images When it comes to resembling the Black Hollywood icon, Salli Richardson Whitfield may take the prize.
Not only does she do Pam Grier’s appearance justice, but her acting skills are also exceptional. The actress has showed her versatility from films like Mo Money and A Low Down Dirty Shame, to Antwone Fisher, Black Dynamite and more. She has also featured in and directed countless TV shows and acted alongside Grier in the 1993 film Posse.
The 55-year-old has been nominated twice for a NAACP Image Award and won a Black Reel award. Although she isn’t in front of the camera much these days, she’s still heavily involved in media, as she’s directed episodes of shows including Queen Sugar, Scandal, Luke Cage, Black Lightening, Black-Ish, All American, The Chi, Dear White People and more.
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Beyoncé
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Who embodies fierceness, sex appeal, beauty, talent and boss behavior more than our girl Beyoncé?
Bey’s has been brought up multiple times regarding playing the star, and not only does she resemble Pam Grier a bit, she also has the icon-status and respect to go with it. Playing Grier in a biopic wouldn’t be too far-left for Bey, as she’s taken on major roles as Deena Jones in 2006’s Dreamgirls and Etta James in Cadillac Records.
The Queen also showed other sides of her acting skills in films like Obsessed, The Fighting Temptations, Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Pink Panther, and her debut role in Carmen: A Hip-Hopera, where her character used seduction to manipulate a man into helping her get out of trouble. The mother-of-four has been busy on her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour, but who knows, maybe Bey will hit the big screen again for Pam Grier one day.
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Taraji P. Henson
Image Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images Taraji P. Henson could also be a great fit to play Pam Grier.
The actress is not only getting ready to show off her juke-joint singing skills in the forthcoming remake of The Color Purple as Shug Avery, but has also taken on several powerful roles throughout her career. Henson, 52, has had starring roles in Not Easily Broken, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Once Fallen, From The Rough, Think Like a Man, No Good Deed, Hidden Figures, Proud Mary, Coffee & Kareem and more.
Henson’s work has earned her a historical win with the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Empire). Other awards of Henson’s include a Golden Globe in the same category for the series, Academy Award nods, multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards for Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story and Empire.
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Keke Palmer
Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Keke Palmer is known for her big personality, verbiage and acting skills, and at only 29 her aura is reminiscent of someone who’s been here before. Although she’s a younger candidate for the role, she could possibly play Grier in her younger days.
Known for playing leading roles in both comedy and drama films/shows, Palmer’s received a Primetime Emmy Award, five NAACP Image Awards, Daytime Emmy Award nods and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She was also named in Time magazine’s 2019 Most Influential People list.
The singer and actress made her film acting debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business in 2004 and went on to her breakthrough role in Akeelah and the Bee in 2006. Aside from acting, Palmer also released her first studio album So Uncool in 2007, as she took on roles in films like Madea’s Family Reunion, Jump In!, The Longshots and more.
The now mother-of-one also held the starring position on Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP in 2008 way ahead of channeling the role of Chili from TLC in the group’s biopic CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.
Palmer has also done some Broadway as “Ella” in Cinderella and created her own network, KeyTV, where she hosts her talk show, Just Keke.
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Jada Pinkett-Smith
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images Jada Pinkett-Smith could take on the role of Pam Grier for a biopic, as her bold and beautiful aura would shine through on the big screen. Although Pinkett’s personal life as the wife of Will Smith has spilled over into the public, her acting skills can’t be forgotten.
The 51-year-old multifaceted actress, philanthropist and host has had leading roles in both film and television, earning accolades including four NAACP Image Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award for her now-canceled Facebook show Red Table Talk.
The mother-of-two first had her big break on the iconic TV show A Different World in 1991 before making her big screen debut in Menace II Society. From there, Pinkett made a name for herself with versatile roles in the films The Nutty Professor, the critically acclaimed Set It Off, Scream 2 , The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Magic Mike XXL, Bad Moms, Girls Trip and The Matrix Resurrections.
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Megan Thee Stallion
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Megan Thee Stallion has yet to feature in a movie, but has made a plethora of TV appearances as herself and her interchangeable personas. She definitely gives off a “foxy” aura with her lyrics, performances and style.
As she still builds her filmography credits, the Houston rhymer has shown through her aliases of Tina Snow, Suga and Hot Girl Meg, that’s she’s capable of channeling someone else. The 28-year-old has already made appearances in TV shows including Good Girls, P-Valley, and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law where she gave the main character twerk lessons. She’s also rumored to be in an upcoming A24 musical-comedy titled F**king Identical Twins, however concrete details have not been revealed.
The “Savage” rapper’s sex appeal also breaks the charts, as she’s not only voluptuous like Grier, but also a boss babe when it comes to the books. Thee Stallion, née Megan Pete, graduated from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Administration. She’s also won three Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Performance and Best Rap Song.