This is how Naomi Ackie transformed into Whitney Houston for the movie ‘I want to dance with someone’

As a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted world of singer Whitney Houston. This is how its producers define the next biographical tape of the artist who died in 2012 and whose title is inspired by one of his greatest hits: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (I want to dance with someone), in reference to the singer’s pending longing to find true love and make a home.

The film, which has the approval of Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and former managerwill be released on Thursday February 2 in Ecuador. It stars British actress Naomi Ackie.who has already been nominated for Bafta Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the series The End of the F***ing Worldavailable on Netflix.

To capture Whitney’s voice, Ackie worked extensively with dialect coach Bridgette Jackson, to lose her natural British accent and also capture the very specific tone of voice Houston used when speakingthus moving away from the terrain of mimicry or impersonation.

“When Whitney was younger, her voice was light, airy, and breathy.”, commented the actress, who was also part of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). “And then, over time, it got deeper, it got hoarser”, he explained. “We also look at his accent: when she was younger, Whitney’s accent is that of a small New Jerseyand then it changes a bit, especially when doing interviews in a professional environment”.

Total, 22 songs by the singer have been included in the tape written by Anthony McCartenwho also collaborated on Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). Although Ackie doesn’t sing all of the songs, his voice was mixed with Houston’s voice. for production.

“She has a complicated history. But, since all human beings are complicated, we can relate to her and the struggles she had through the pressures she faced, and we came to understand it,” McCarten said.

Clive Daviswho was a close associate of Houston for much of his artistic career, He is also one of the sources consulted for the film, and he himself is part of the plot.interpreted by stanley tucci.

“The purpose of this film is to show the whole Whitney. My mission was to make sure to show the life of a great music star and what made her special, unique. Our intention was not to cover up the lethal impact of drugs and how they brought a unique person to a premature and tragic end.. But, mainly, the tape is to show his great talent, why she was loved and her unparalleled talent that impacted the whole world”.

The actor Ashton Sanders (Moon light) will play the singer Bobby Brown, now 53 years oldwith whom Whitney was married between 1992 and 2007, and with whom she conceived the also deceased Bobbi Kristina Brown. The actress nafessa williams (Black Lightning) becomes the film in Robyn CrawfordHouston’s best friend since her teens.

According to its producers, If there’s one theme that runs through Houston’s work and provides a natural story arc for the film, it’s the idea of ​​searching for family and home. of the deep connection that comes with love and affection: Whitney deeply wanted to dance with someone who loved her.. “She’s just a girl from a small neighborhood who wants to be loved, who she wants to have a home and people who care about her and share her talent with the worldsaid Jeff Kalligheri. “That’s what we hear in her music, and that’s what she’s been looking for in her life.”.