Amy Winehouse's mum Janis's poignant words on Back To Black set
Janis Winehouse visited the set of the biopic about her daughter, who is played by Marisa Abela
What did you miss?
Marisa Abela has told how Amy Winehouse’s mum made a sweet comment about her late daughter as she visited the actor on the set of Back To Black.
The actor stars as the late Valerie singer in the film. It chronicles the life and music of the star, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.
Opening up on ITV’s This Morning, Abela said that Winehouse’s family came to see her as she made the film and that she made it clear to them that she wanted it to bring the focus back to the Rehab singer’s music.
What, how and why?
Hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary asked Abela what it was like meeting Winehouse's family.
Abela replied: "It was important to me to be respectful of all parts of Amy's life and you know, tragically what I found when I met Amy's family were just people that were grieving.
"I wanted to be sensitive and also show them that my only intention in this job was to bring her legacy back to her music and to make people remember how talented an artist she was and just enjoy being in her orbit again for two hours and I think that they were really excited by that.
"I mean, it's sensitive for them and it just requires being gentle and being respectful.
"There was one day that they came and I remember Janis said to me, 'I can't believe all these people are here for my naughty Amy'."
What else did Marisa Abela say?
Abela also talked about how she prepared for the role, saying that she booked the job about four months before she started shooting.
"I think I watched everything that there is to see about her and also a lot of radio interviews, that was really helpful for the voice," she explained. "Also I worked with a singing teacher and I worked with a movement teacher."
"I wanted to find Amy the girl, the person," she added. "Because you can't really play an icon, you have to play a human being."
Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black will be released in UK cinemas on April 12.
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