Precious: Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire - Cast

Cast

• Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece Precious Jones
• Mo'Nique as Mary Lee Johnston
• Paula Patton as Ms. Blu Rain
• Mariah Carey as Ms. Weiss
• Lenny Kravitz as Nurse John McFadden
• Sherri Shepherd as Cornrows
• Nealla Gordon as Mrs. Sondra Lichtenstein
• Stephanie Andujar as Rita Romero
• Chyna Layne as Rhonda Patrice Johnson
• Amina Robinson as Jermaine Hicks
• Xosha Roquemore as Jo Ann
• Angelic Zambrana as Consuelo
• Quishay Powell as Mongo
• Grace Hightower as Social Worker
• Kimberly Russell as Katherine
• Bill Sage as Mr. Wicher
• Sapphire as Day Care Woman

In September 2007, 24-year-old Gabourey Sidibe was cast as Claireece Precious Jones. The film's casting director, Billy Hopkins, was responsible for finding her at an open call audition held at New York City's Lehman College. Sidibe was chosen over 300 others who auditioned in nationwide casting calls and having had no prior acting experience.

Mariah Carey was cast as Ms. Weiss, Precious's social worker who supports her during her struggles. In September 2008, Carey described her character as "not really a likable person, but she does bring this to the surface." Carey and Daniels had previously worked together on Tennessee. Daniels said that he cast Carey because he was "so impressed" by her performance in Tennessee. Sapphire (the author of the novel) makes a cameo appearance as a woman at a day care center near the end of the film. According to director Daniels, Helen Mirren, who starred in his previous film Shadowboxer, was originally set to play the part of Ms. Weiss, but obtained a role in a "bigger project."

Paula Patton was cast as Ms. Blu Rain, Precious's alternative school teacher. Patton said that her character teaches Precious to "learn and read and write from the very beginnings, and pushes her to believe in herself, and pushes her to realize that anything is possible." Mo'Nique was cast as Mary Lee Johnston, Precious's mother, who is verbally and physically abusive. Mo'Nique and Daniels had previously worked together in Shadowboxer(In-which her character was named Precious). Bill Sage was cast as Mr. Wicher. Sage had co-starred with Carey in Glitter, as well as previously working with Daniels on Tennessee. Robert De Niro's wife Grace Hightower was cast as a social worker; the film marks her film debut. She previously appeared on NYPD Blue.

In October 2007, Stephanie Andujar, 23, was cast as Rita, a 16-year-old former heroin addict and prostitute, who attends the same alternative school in Harlem as Precious and later befriends her. During Andujar's audition, Daniels was so impressed that he interrupted her dialogue and stated, "I want you in my movie." Lenny Kravitz was cast as John McFadden, a nurse who shows kindness to Precious. This film is Kravitz' feature film acting debut.