Iconic singer Tina Turner has passed away at the age of 83. Via The Hollywood Reporter, Turner died Wednesday “‘after a long illness’ at her home in Küsnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland.” She leaves behind an incredible musical legacy that includes eight Grammy Awards and more than 200 million albums sold in her lifetime.
Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, but changed her name while partnering with her husband, Ike Turner, in the 1960s. Together, they rose to fame as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, while she endured their abusive behavior behind the scenes. In 1976, Turner earned her status as a feminist icon by leaving her husband and speaking out about the abuse she suffered at his hands. Subsequently, she reinvented herself as a solo artist and became one of the biggest names in rock.
Outside of the music industry, Turner broke into Hollywood with a handful of acting roles. Starring in movies wasn’t Turner’s ultimate goal, but the few films that she left of hers left an indelible mark on those who saw her on screen. Her magnetic personality was on full display and she was unforgettable in every way. To honor the life of Tina Turner, we take a look at her top five movies.
Tommy (1975)
Turner was already a music superstar when he landed his first real acting role in Tommy, the rock opera created by The Who. Turner was cast as Acid Queen, one of the questionable people his parents sent Tommy (Roger Daltrey) to after he went “deaf, dumb and blind.” Turner was also able to showcase his musical talents when he sang the Acid Queen song while trying to snap Tommy out of his catatonia with some increasingly erratic and even erotic actions towards him.
While the song didn’t wake Tommy up, it did lead to Turner’s second solo studio album, which was called acid queen.
you can rent or buy Tommy on digital platforms like Prime Video.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Aunty Entity was by far Turner’s most famous role, and also the biggest role she had in a film not about her. In mad max beyond thunderdome, the main character, “Mad” Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson), caught the eye of Aunty, the leader of Bartertown. Aunty felt threatened by Master (Angelo Rossitto) and his bodyguard, The Blaster (Paul Larsson), when they tried to steal control of Bartertown from her. She so she recruited Max to eliminate them.
But when Max refused to kill Blaster in the Thunderdome arena, Aunty wasted no time in turning on him. She was a powerful ally, but an even more terrifying villain when she felt that Max had betrayed her.
you can rent or buy mad max beyond thunderdome on digital platforms like Prime Video.
What does love have to do with it? (1993)
Although Tina Turner does not star What does love have to do with it?it’s her biopic, her story, her music, and even her singing voice. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Angela Bassett took over the role of Tina when she becomes a hot musical act with her lover-turned-husband, Ike Turner (John Wick: Chapter 4by Laurence Fishburne). Ike and Tina’s success was spectacular, but it was marred by their physical and emotional abuse that left Tina a shell of herself.
The film chronicles the end of their relationship, as well as Tina’s escape and subsequent reinvention of herself as one of rock’s greatest superstars. It’s an inspiring story, even decades later.
you can rent or buy What does love have to do with it? on digital platforms like Prime Video.
Last Action Hero (1993)
Streaming on Netflix
Turner only had a small role in ultimate action hero as the mayor of Los Angeles in the movie within the movie, jack slateriii. This part turned out to be her last acting role of hers, as she focused heavily on her music and other ventures of hers after this film. Arnold Schwarzenegger played Detective Jack Slater, a fictional character who had no idea he wasn’t real. Jack only realized the truth of his reality when a young man named Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien) found himself drawn into the world of his favorite movie franchise.
you can rent or buy ultimate action hero on digital platforms like Prime Video.
tub (2021)
Transmission in Max
What does love have to do with it? was the fictional version of Turner’s life, but Tub it was the real deal. In this HBO documentary, Turner talked about his decades in the music industry and told his personal story in his own words. Bassett also contributed to the film, along with her co-stars Oprah Winfrey, Kurt Loder, Katori Hall, Erwin Bach, Carl Arrington, Jimmy Thomas, Le’Juene Fletcher, Rhonda Graam and more.
This film turned out to be Turner’s last farewell. But as always, Turner knew how to emerge victorious.
you can rent or buy Tub on digital platforms like Prime Video.
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