Precious, directed by Lee Daniels, made its debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival the Grand Jury and Audience awards in the U.S. Dramatic category. Mo'nique also received a special award for her portrayal of Precious's abusive mother. Precious received widespread critical acclaim. The performances of the cast, specially Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique, the story, and its message were highly praised. The film was a box office success and received six nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Directing (Lee Daniels) and Actress in a Leading Role (Gabourey Sidibe). Mo'Nique won the award for Actress in a Supporting Role, while Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African-American to win an Oscar in the Writing (Adapted Screenplay) category.
Mariah plays Ms. Weiss, a downtrodden social worker. “So many people have said to me, ‘Were you really in that movie? We kept waiting for you to come on screen‘,” Mariah explained. “I just looked so unlike me. Of course, usually on stage I'm made up and glamorous, but I just had to let all that go. For acting I'm willing to do anything to make a role authentic, and I really am proud of what I achieved in Precious.” Mariah was awarded the Breakthrough Actress Performance award during the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo'Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.
Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn't know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.
