Naomi Ackie: "The role affected my mental health"
British actress Naomi Ackie plays a musical diva in the film.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, an American biographical musical drama based on the life and career of American pop singer and actress Whitney Houston, was released in theaters a few days ago.
In the film, British actress Naomi Ackie plays a musical diva. Whitney was a drug addict who died at the age of 48 from an overdose, so the hours Naomi spent playing the singer took their toll and she had to take a break from filming.
The role exhausted her
"Recording affected my mental health. I had to take a break from filming and from Whitney which was about a month long. There was a constant sense of urgency and intensity which, fortunately, I have now released," said Naomi, writing The Sun.
Naomi was previously renowned for her roles in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and The End Of The F***ing World. She was on the verge of quitting her acting profession five years ago.
Naomi struggled to get her next role after her debut in Lady Macbeth and worked in the wine bar at The Crystal Maze Experience in central London.
She almost gave up her acting career
"I was really depressed, I was really broke. I finished filming Lady Macbeth and nothing happened. I went back to my side job," Naomi said. At that time, she lived with her father and decided that she would give up acting if she did not get a good role the next year.
"I said to the universe, 'Look, I'll give you a year. If I don't get a sign, well, I'll figure something else out. I'm capable of doing it,'" the actress recounted.
After that, she got a role in Star Wars. When she got the role of Whitney, there were various reactions, and many people were annoyed that a British woman was playing an American woman.
"They don't hire me because I'm British or whatever, they hire me because I offer a service. I'm good at my job and I have integrity when it comes to these things," Naomi explains, adding that she tries to worry as little as possible about what people think about her.
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She also revealed what she thinks about Whitney Houston. "She had one of the most amazing voices in the world. And she still does, to this day. But she was just as human as I am. She had a lot of conflicts, just like me, she fought with herself, and she had problems like anybody who else," said Naomi.
She spent months researching Whitney's performances before beginning filming. "I suppose I've seen everything on YouTube a million times, and it's become a jail for me. And the strange thing is, that's not how I normally approach a part "She stated.
She was fatigued from the long hours and the pressure to perform flawlessly. Naomi was concerned that her portrayal of Whitney on screen would fall short of the audience's expectations, and that the critics would criticize her. Naomi determined two weeks before the conclusion of filming that not everything had to be perfect.
Post by Bryan C.
