<p id=”par-1_71″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/beyonce/?swcfpc=1″>Beyoncé’s</a> fans have long lauded her as one of the hardest-working artists in the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/music/”>music</a> industry, a trait that has been present for most of her life. The singer has received the most Grammy nominations of any artist, acted in films, toured, and released several visual albums. There’s one project that she described as more difficult than the rest. She shared why a 2008 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/movies/”>film</a> was such a challenge for her.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-beyonce-said-a-film-shoot-was-one-of-the-most-draining-experiences-of-her-life”>Beyoncé said a film shoot was one of the most draining experiences of her life</h2>
<p id=”par-2_28″>In 2008, Beyoncé portrayed Etta James in the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-heartwarming-reason-beyonce-donated-her-entire-cadillac-records-salary-to-charity.html/”>film <em>Cadillac Records</em></a>. She relished the role because she could behave in a way she never does in real life.</p>
<p id=”par-3_40″>“My way of dealing with frustration is to shut down and to think and speak logically,” she told <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a9721/the-liberation-of-b-271284/” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Elle</a>. “But playing Etta was a time when I didn’t have to do that. I could be loud and let it rip.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_29″>She cursed and went on vitriolic rants in the role. She said she rarely speaks that way. As a result, the role felt like an opportunity to let loose.</p>
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<iframe title=”Cadillac Records (2008) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/0S2Z_zuJxQs?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-5_27″>“I don’t normally curse,” she said. “Maybe twice a year. I have <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/beyonce-actually-liked-people-made-her-mad-performing.html/”>to be really livid</a>. Somebody saying things or scheduling something where I’m not in control.”</p>
<p id=”par-6_23″>Still, it wasn’t an easy part. Beyoncé admitted that it was one of the biggest challenges of her career up until that point.</p>
<p id=”par-7_29″>“It was freeing, but it was also the most emotionally draining time of my life,” she said. “Every day I would come home, my eyes would be completely swollen.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-she-shared-her-experience-of-meeting-etta-james”>She shared her experience of meeting Etta James</h2>
<p id=”par-8_29″>Beyoncé met James while working on the role. She’d met many celebrities by that point, but she said it was one of the most intimidating moments of her life.</p>
<p id=”par-9_29″>“I was terrified to meet her,” she said. “Imagine. Having studied her hands, her facial expressions. Like she wasn’t real. But she was. I just wanted to please her.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_29″>Initially, James wasn’t sold on Beyoncé in the role, as she didn’t think they looked enough alike. When she heard her sing “At Last,” though, she changed her mind.</p>
<p id=”par-11_37″>“Etta told me, ‘I thought you was a little old thing, girl, but you a brick house!’” Beyoncé said. “She kept saying, `You bad, girl! You bad!’ She doesn’t say much, but she never tells a lie.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-beyonce-is-currently-going-through-another-difficult-period-in-her-life”>Beyoncé is currently going through another difficult period in her life</h2>
<p id=”par-12_44″>Years after her role in <em>Cadillac Records</em>, Beyoncé is going through another challenging life event. This month, her husband, Jay-Z, was named in a lawsuit alleging that he and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000. Jay-Z has vehemently denied these allegations. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Beyonce-Jay-Z-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Jay-Z posing in a suit alongside Beyonce who’s wearing a dress at the premiere of ‘Mufasa’.” class=”wp-image-3752439″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Jay-Z and Beyoncé | Gilbert Flores / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-13_22″>Beyoncé has not yet spoken publicly about the lawsuit against her husband. A source claimed that she feels <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/beyonce-devastated-horrified-jay-z-allegations-confides-former-destinys-child-member-source-reveals.html/”>devastated by them</a>, though.</p>
<p id=”par-14_58″>“Beyoncé isn’t in a good place at all and is surrounded by her mother and other friends at their home in LA,” the source told the <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14174865/Beyonc-consoled-singer-Broadway-star-rock-Jay-Z-rape-accusation.html” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Daily Mail</a>. “She has cancelled some surprise promotional appearances. Jay has reassured her that he isn’t guilty of anything and is infuriated that his friendship with Diddy has dragged him into this.”</p>
<p id=”par-15_33″><strong><em>How to get help: </em></strong><em>In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.</em></p>