Actress Chyna Layne stars as Rhonda in the highly-anticipated film PUSH directed by the critically acclaimed Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball, ShadowBoxer)
set to make its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah from January 15, 2009 - January 25, 2009. Based on the NY Times Bestselling novel PUSH, written by Sapphire, the film is set in the '80's and chronicles the daily struggles that Precious (played by Gabourey Sidibe) faces. As Rhonda, Chyna Layne portrays a Jamaican immigrant from Kingston, Jamaica enrolled in the Pre-GED program at Each One Teach One Alternative school battling illiteracy and overcoming a painful past, surviving incest. With themes ranging from illiteracy, incest, STD's, and battles with self-esteem, PUSH is an inspirational story of hope. The film boasts an all-star cast including Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, and Sherri Shepherd.
ABOUT CHYNA LAYNE
Raised in the gritty streets of East New York, Brooklyn, Chyna Layne is the sui generis actress of her generation. Her uninhibited approach to portraying unique and human characters rarely seen on television and in film paired with her exotic beauty makes this round-the-way girl the one to watch. Among her directors, Chyna Layne is known as the "glam chick" who morphs for each role she embodies. Like Robert De Niro in Raging Bull and Charlize Theron in Monster, Chyna Layne took on a grueling physical transformation for her gripping portrayal of Rhonda in the much-anticipated film, Push. Set in the 1980s, the powerhouse actress portrays Rhonda, an incest survivor newly migrated to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica who enrolls in the pre-GED program at the Each One Teach One alternative school. The usually chic starlet gained 25 pounds, developed a thick Jamaican accent, chopped off her long locks and dons a gold tooth for her nearly unrecognizable role. Making its world premiere in the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Push, is based on the bestselling novel by Sapphire and directed by the critically acclaimed Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball, Shadowboxer). In HBO's Life Support directed by Nelson George, Chyna gives a heartwrenching performance as Deyah Kingston, a pregnant woman who is HIV-positive and a victim of domestic violence. Based on a true story, Chyna steps into the role of Juanita, the jealous girlfriend who killed legendary harmonica player, Pot Strong in the Sony release, Cadillac Records, written and directed by Darnell Martin. Nerds around the globe reunite for the charming teen comedy, All Screwed Up. Chyna is Teenisha Flowers, the teen geek who switches bodies with the popular high school jock through the bite of a Namibian Elephant beetle. The critically acclaimed faith-based film, A Deeper Love, is the first project produced under her company, Lawrence Layne Productions. The Source raves her star performance is "stunning" and the film itself "a true masterpiece." The spiritual drama is the winner Best Religious Film in the 2008 San Diego Black Film Festival and has screened in over seven film festivals in 2008 including the American Black Film Festival, Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival and San Francisco Black Film Festival. Learn more about the rising star at www.ChynaLayne.com. See filmography at www.IMDB.com.
ABOUT SUNDANCE
The 2009 Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah. Marking its 25th anniversary, 118 feature-length films were selected including 87 world premieres, 19 North American premieres, and 4 U.S. premieres representing 21 countries with 42 first-time filmmakers, including 28 in competition. These films were selected from 3,661 feature- length film submissions composed of 1,905 U.S. and 1,756 international feature-length films. "This year's films are not narrowly defined. Instead we have a blurring of genres, a crossing of boundaries: geographic, generational, socio-economic and the like," said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. "The result is both an exhilarating and emotive Festival in which traditional mythologies are suspended, discoveries are made, and creative storytelling is embraced." For more info, visit www.Sundance.org.
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