Lisa Lisa Reveals Near Miss Role in ‘Coming to America’
Music icon Lisa Lisa, known for her 1980s hits, recently depicted her own mother in the Lifetime biopic, “Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story.”
Almost a Co-Star to Eddie Murphy
However, the “I Wonder If I Take You Home” singer disclosed a potential earlier foray into acting: a role as Eddie Murphy’s love interest, coincidentally named Lisa, in the 1988 cinematic classic “Coming to America.”
“It was unbelievable,” Lisa Velez, 59, remarked to The Post, reflecting on the near opportunity to make her mark on the silver screen. This potential role came just three years after her music career breakthrough with her debut single in 1985.
According to Lisa Lisa, she and Eddie Murphy spent time together socially, alongside Mike Tyson. “I recall when he considered making a romantic comedy, he wanted to assess our chemistry,” she stated.
She apparently passed the on-screen chemistry assessment.
Role Offered, But Marital Concerns Intervened
“Subsequently, I received the script and an offer for the part,” she explained, referring to the role of Lisa McDowell from Queens, New York. In the beloved romantic comedy, McDowell is the object of Prince Akeem’s affections, who hails from the fictional African nation of Zamunda.
Despite the offer, Lisa Lisa’s journey to becoming Queen of Zamunda was not to be.
“At the time, I was married, and upon showing my then-husband, John Yulfo, the script, he expressed his disapproval,” she admitted. “Consequently, I had to decline the role.”
While acknowledging Shari Headley’s commendable performance in the part, Lisa Lisa now reflects on her decision, recognizing she prioritized being a “good wife” over her career aspirations.
“I was naive and inexperienced,” she confessed. “I believed I was acting responsibly, being a supportive spouse. However, I’ve questioned that decision countless times since.”
Biopic Role: Portraying Her Mother
In contrast to the missed movie role, embodying her mother in her biopic presented a different, deeply personal challenge.
“Witnessing my life through her perspective was profoundly impactful,” she shared. “My mother was a champion, dedicated to ensuring her ten children could pursue their aspirations. Portraying her life was truly surreal.”
The biopic also addresses sensitive topics, including the domestic abuse Lisa Lisa’s mother endured and the singer’s private battle with breast cancer.
“Discussing my cancer, a secret I guarded for years, was difficult,” she revealed, referencing undergoing cancer treatments while discreetly wearing a chemotherapy pack during tours with Cult Jam.
“Fearful of losing my career, I concealed my diagnosis from everyone. I was fortunate to have an exceptional doctor and a nurse who coordinated my treatment while I was touring,” she added.
Despite the emotional weight of revisiting past traumas for the biopic, Lisa Lisa found the process “therapeutic.”
40th Anniversary and Apollo Theater Performance
Four decades after releasing her debut hit, “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” the freestyle music icon – known for hits like “All Cried Out,” “Head to Toe,” and “Lost in Emotion” – continues her vibrant career with a 40th-anniversary tour. This tour includes a performance at the Apollo Theater on Saturday as part of D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Live show.
“The audience will be filled with Harlem residents, my community,” stated the New York native, who has graced the legendary Apollo stage three times prior. “They are always enthusiastically receptive to the music. I genuinely love performing there.”