Actress Marisa Abella has revealed that her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in the upcoming biopic is unique.
At the premiere of Back to Black in London on April 8, she described the experience to People.
"I'm really excited," Abella said. "It doesn't feel like I'm singing. You know, when you get into a character, you do what you have to do."
"And that's my job as an actor - to recreate her in every corner of her life and to be able to tell the story in every moment of her life," added the 27-year-old actress.
Abella also revealed what she learned about Winehouse as a person while filming the film. Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, also at the age of 27.
"I mean, so much. I think she was an extraordinary artist, so authentic, one of the most amazing poets," Abella explained.
Fans got their first look at Winehouse's portrayal in the film in January 2023, when director Sam Taylor-Johnson shared a series of photos on Instagram of Abella sporting Winehouse's signature honeycomb hairstyle and large earrings.
The film's official synopsis describes Back to Black as "the extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse's early rise from her early days in Camden to the creation of her breakthrough album, Back to Black, which catapulted Winehouse to worldwide stardom."
"Told through Amy's eyes and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores and embraces the many layers of the iconic artist and the tumultuous love story at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time," reads the synopsis.
The film also stars Unbroken star Jack O'Connell, who plays the late singer Blake Fielder-Civil's ex-husband.
Black to Black will be released in theaters on May 17 in the US. /BGNES
