He’s still Big Mama’s favorite!
It’s been nearly 30 years since we first gathered around Big Mama’s table in Soul Food, the 1997 film that gave us more than just a Sunday dinner, it gave us legacy, love, and “Big Mama,” played by legendary actress Irma P. Hall.
On June 3rd, the beloved actress turned 90 years young, and the occasion was marked by a full-circle moment that brought tears, joy, and soul food back to the forefront. Actor Brandon Hammond, who played Ahmad, the inquisitive and heartfelt narrator of the film, shared an emotional tribute and reunion with the celebrated actress, recapping the meet up on his social media.
“Happy 90th Birthday to the LEGENDARY Ms. Irma P. Hall,” Hammond wrote. “It is not an overstatement to say that Irma’s career is nothing short of ICONIC.” And indeed it is, from her unforgettable performance in Soul Food to her acclaimed roles in The Ladykillers and A Family Thing, Hall has long embodied the strength and heart of Black matriarchs onscreen.
But it’s the bond between Hall and Hammond that adds a deeper flavor to this celebration.
“I met her as a 12-year-old boy whom she immediately treated like her grandson,” Hammond recalled. “Because of Soul Food, Irma would affectionately be known by so many as ‘Big Mama’ and I, as her ‘favorite grandbaby’— and she and I would be forever linked.”
Though they briefly reunited on a project after the film, it had been over two decades since they last saw one another in person. That changed thanks to a labor of love Hammond has quietly been working on — a Soul Food Reunion documentary. The documentary’s development allowed him to visit Hall at her home in Texas, where she now lives with her family.
“Words can’t really express what this experience was like for me, but I’ll try,” Hammond wrote. “Her hugs and smile were as I remember them and being able to reminisce about that special time filming Soul Food almost 30 years ago is something that I will hold onto for dear life.”
He shared that they even sat down for “a nice soul food-esque dinner” — an echo of the same gathering that defined their shared screen legacy.
In photos from the reunion, time seems to bend — their bond untouched by the years. “People truly do come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime,” Hammond reflected. “It feels like Irma’s presence in my life fits all three of those categories and I am eternally grateful to know her.”
As fans eagerly await the upcoming Soul Food Reunion documentary, this moment between Big Mama and her favorite grandbaby is a reminder that some stories — and some people — never lose their flavor.
Happy 90th birthday, Ms. Irma P. Hall! Thank you for feeding us with your spirit, your warmth, and your grace.
Cover photo: Actor Brandon Hammond Reunites With ‘Soul Food’ Co-Star Irma P. Hall for Her 90th Birthday/Photo credit: Brandon Hammond/@bl_hamm/Instagram