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Why star of Amy Winehouse biopic had to train ‘like an athlete’

Voice coach Anne-Marie Speed outlines extraordinary demands made of actor Marisa Abela to play role of singer

Intense gym sessions, consulting nutritionists and multiple coaches tweaking every aspect of your performance might sound like the life of a professional endurance athlete but increasingly the same demands are being made of actors – especially those trying to transform into well-known singers. The pair worked together from September 2022 to January 2023, when shooting started on the biopic, which also stars Lesley Manville as Winehouse’s grandmother, Cynthia, and Jack O’Connell as her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil. Abela had to learn to sing from scratch and underwent training with Speed and another vocal coach, as well as taking guitar lessons and an exercise regime in order to be ready for the part.

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