Marisa Abela looks the spitting image of Amy Winehouse (Picture: Dean Rogers)
With her jet-black beehive hair and winged eyeliner, Amy Winehouse’s look is utterly iconic and not easily imitated – unless you’re Marisa Abela.
Marisa, 26, is set to play the late British singer in a new biopic, Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, 56, of Fifty Shades of Grey fame.
The first official picture shows a breathtaking transformation of the Industry star, seen in profile against the warm glow of stage lights looking uncannily like Amy.
Amy’s famed winged liner is on display, although much more contained than some of her eye make-up looks, as well as her beauty mark piercing above her lip.
It’s hard to believe the picture isn’t of the Rehab hitmaker herself, who tragically died aged 27 on July 23, 2011, from alcohol poisoning and is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of all time.
Back to Black will focus on Amy’s rise from playing the London jazz scene to Grammy-winning superstar, seen through her own eyes.
Amy died in 2011 after accidental alcohol poisoning (Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock)
She is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers (Picture: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS)
The resemblance is almost uncanny (Picture: Dean Rogers)
Created by StudioCanal, Focus Features and Monumental Pictures, the highly-anticipated feature film will document her ‘vibrant years living in London in the early aughts and her intense journey to fame.’
The biopic reportedly has the full support of the Amy Winehouse estate, along with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Publishing as it will, of course, feature her beloved music.
It is named after her acclaimed 2006 album, which won numerous awards including at the Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year as well as Amy winning Best New Artist.
Filming took place in London earlier this year, with her real home in Camden used for the shoot to maintain authenticity.
Portraying the singer’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who she married in 2007 before divorcing two years later, is Skins alum Jack O’Connell, 33.
Jack O’Connell has been cast as the late singer’s ex-husband (Picture: Dave Benett)
Amy and Blake Fielder-Civil split in 2009 after two years of marriage (Picture: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Amid the end of the pair’s turbulent relationship, Amy heartbreakingly told Marie Claire: ‘I still love Blake and I want him to move into my new house with me – that was my plan all along.
‘I won’t let him divorce me. He’s the male version of me and we’re perfect for each other.’
After her untimely death, Blake said he would ‘do everything differently’ if given a second chance.
Eddie Marsan, 55, takes on the role of Amy’s father and manager, Mitch, while Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville, 67, plays her grandmother Cynthia.
Mitch Winehouse will be played by Eddie Marsan (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Amy with father Mitch back in 2008 (Picture: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
Amy idolised the singer – who dated jazz legend Ronnie Scott – even getting a tattoo on her arm in tribute as the pair were incredibly close.
Official pictures of the rest of the cast are yet to be released but Marisa’s transformation appears to be spot on so hopes are high for the emotional biopic.
Speaking about her passion for the project, director Sam said: ‘My connection to Amy began when I left college and was hanging out in the creatively diverse London borough of Camden. I got a job at the legendary Koko Club, and I can still breathe every market stall, vintage shop and street…
‘A few years later Amy wrote her searingly honest songs whilst living in Camden. Like with me, it became part of her DNA. I first saw her perform at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and it was immediately obvious she wasn’t just talent… she was genius.’
Sam Taylor-Johnson shared how excited she was to take on the biopic (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix)
The Amy Winehouse Estate has given their support for the film(Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Sam is no stranger to biopics, having directed 2009’s Nowhere Boy as her debut feature film which starred then-19-year-old Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenage John Lennon.
The director, who is 23 years his senior, married the Kraven the Hunter star three years later and they share two daughters; Wylda Rae, 13, and Romy Hero, 11.
Aaron also is stepfather to Angelica, 25, and Jessie, 16, from Sam’s previous marriage to Jay Jopling.
Back to Black is set to be released in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on April 12, 2024.
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It’s uncanny