Back to Black star Jack O’Connell reveals surprise favourite thing about filming slammed biopic
The premier of Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic about the iconic singer’s rise to fame, took place last night and Jack O’Connell says there was only one thing on the cast’s mind
Jack O’Connell says one of the best thing about filming Back to Black was that it allowed him to sleep in his own bed as he spoke of the need to do Amy Winehouse “justice”.
The former Skins star portrays her husband Blake Fielder-Civil in the biopic, which has hardly won over the critics following Monday night’s world premier. Jack said the music icon’s dad Mitch wanted to slap him when he got into character as his daughter’s ex – but it was handshakes all round at Leicester Square with her family walking the red carpet.
Jack has defended the film and leapt to the defence of his co-star Marisa Abela, saying she is absolutely perfect for the role after some fans criticised the selection process. Jack told The Mirror that he thinks sceptics will be won over once they’ve seen it and the 33-year-old says it wasn’t just Amy’s music that he respected.
Jack, who acted opposite movie mega stars George Clooney and Julie Roberts in Money Monster back in 2016, hit back at critics who questioned Marisa’s suitability for the role and said he had a ball with her during their months putting together what he hopes will be a “perfect” celebration of Amy’s life.
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“I had an incredible time on set working with Marisa and everyone involved,” he said. “It was just such a good energy, it was a lot of hard work but a lot of fun. It was amazing to be working in Camden too – it is 15 minutes away from where I live, and that means I could walk through my door and sleep in my own bed every night!
“My main hope is that we do Amy justice, that’s the big thing for me. What struck me about her was how unwavering she was about her art, which was her music, and how she was so sure of her direction. She was never going to get packaged and moulded into something that she wasn’t. I really respect that.
“Marisa knuckled down so hard because these are obviously huge boots to step into and no one wanted to do a basic imitation. So she worked hard, I worked hard, and made sure that when we were on set, we could just be free, spontaneous, instinctive – it was just a great environment to work in.”
He confessed Amy’s dad Mitch wanted to “deck him” during set visits after seeing him dressed as Blake, and accepts her ex didn’t really want the film to go ahead. They met a number of times as he prepared for the role and Jack added: “‘He wasn’t overly keen, obviously it’s going into a phase of his life that is very personal and he harbours a mixed bag of emotions”
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The movie delves into the stormy relationship between Amy and Blake, which fuelled the creation of her Grammy-winning album Back To Black. The star, famed for her chart-topping hits such as Valerie, Rehab and Tears Dry On Their Own, tragically passed away at the age of 27 on July, 23, 2011 due to alcohol poisoning.
The movie is directed and executive produced by Sam Taylor-Johnson, best known for her work on the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy – she says she is ‘excited and humbled’ to be entrusted with such an important piece of cinema. Back to Black director Sam – who is married to actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson – said she was instantly sold by the project.
“I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise Amy’s beautifully unique and tragic story to cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music.” The 50 Shades of Grey director added: “I am fully aware of the responsibility, with my writing collaborator – Matt Greenhalgh – I will create a movie that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like we do Amy.”
Back To Black is set to hit UK cinemas on April 12.