Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is known for many fabulous talents, however dusting isn’t exactly something you’d associate her to. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop director Bill Condon from trying to cast the cultural icon in his live-action Beauty and the Beast film. Spoiler: Beyoncé said no.
Condon, of course, had previously directed Beyoncé in 2006’s Dreamgirls—and at some point in Beauty and the Beast’s production, sought her out to play Plumette, the flying feather duster who’s partially featured in one of the film’s major set pieces. But as he recounted, when Condon approached Beyoncé’s people, he was eventually turned down because Plumette wasn’t “a big enough part.” There are a few moments in the film where we see Plumette dancing with her husband Lumiere the candlestick, but Beyoncé’s assessment of the part was an accurate one, all things said and done. (Gugu Mbatha-Raw ended up with the role in the end.)
All of this makes the rumors that Beyoncé’s in talks to voice Nala in Disney’s upcoming Lion King reboot that much more interesting. Why be a mere feather duster when you can be Queen of Pride Rock instead?
