Bill Bellamy is the latest cast member to join Netflix’s upcoming four-part limited series “Madam CJ Walker.”
He joins series lead Octavia Spencer, as well as Tiffany Haddish, Blair Underwood, Carmen Ejogo, Garrett Morris and Kevin Carroll.
Inspired by the book “On Her Own Ground” by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles, the limited series “tells the untold, culturally important, and highly relevant story of black hair care pioneer and mogul Madam CJ Walker and how she overcame hostile turn-of-the-century America, epic rivalries, tumultuous marriages and family challenges to become America’s first black, self-made female millionaire,” according to Netflix.
Bellamy (“Insecure”) will play Sweetness, described as a smart, savvy numbers banker who gets inspired by Madam Walker’s success and angles for a way to get in good with her – by any means necessary.
Spencer stars as Sarah Breedlove a.k.a. Madam CJ Walker, while Haddish plays Lelia, the smart and feisty daughter of Breedlove and her late first husband, Charles James Walker, played by Underwood. Morris plays CJ’s father, while Ejogo plays her friend Addie, and Carroll plays a Pullman porter named Ransom. You can learn more about each character here.
Set to launch in 2020, Janine Sherman Barrois and Elle Johnson serve as showrunner, writers, and executive producers for the project. Spencer, Christine Holder, Mark Holder, Kasi Lemmons, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Jamal Henderson also executive produce. Lemons will also direct the first episode. Nicole Jefferson Asher co-executive produces and writes.
SpringHill Entertainment and Zero Gravity produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.
