Saga Madea

Madea is a successful theatrical and film saga centering on the character of Mabel Earlene "Madea" Simmons, an elderly African-American woman who is strong, independent, and tough-minded, yet possesses a great deal of common sense and a marked practical wisdom.

The character was created and played by actor, director, and screenwriter Tyler Perry, who was inspired by the female figures of his childhood, especially his mother and aunt. According to Perry himself: "Madea is the PG version of my mother and aunt, and I loved having the opportunity to pay tribute to them. My mother would beat the shit out of you, but she'd make sure the ambulance arrived in time to reattach your arm, because of all the love she had inside."

Although the main tone of the saga is comedy, Madea is characterized by its in-depth treatment of complex themes such as domestic violence, infidelity, discrimination, family abandonment, and the consequences of one's own actions, always from a direct, yet human and relatable perspective.

The Madea universe began in the theater, with a total of 11 plays premiered between 1999 and 2019, the first being 'I Can Do Bad All by Myself'. These plays served as the basis for the subsequent film adaptation, which has featured 13 films starring the iconic character. Madea's success extended beyond film and theater: she starred in an animated series titled 'Madea's Tough Love' and has appeared in television series such as 'House of Payne', 'Love Thy Neighbor', and 'Meet the Browns', all created or produced by Perry. Additionally, Madea has been a guest on popular shows such as 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'.