MARTIN K

Casting Couch

I DON’T KNOW WHY I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I READ NEWS, THE FANTASTIC NEWS, THAT BRITNEY SPEARS BESTSELLING RECORD BREAKING MEMOIR “THE WOMAN IN ME“ WAS SCOOPED UP BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND IS TO BE MADE IN THE BIOPIC OF THE “STRONGER” SINGER’S LIFE, I DON’T KNOW ANYONE WHO ISN’T A FAN OF THE PRINCESS OF POP, SHE ANNOUNCED THE NEWS HERSELF LAST MONTH STATING. “EXCITED TO SHARE WITH MY FANS THAT I’VE BEEN WORKING ON A SECRET PROJECT WITH #MARCPLATT. HE’S ALWAYS MADE MY FAVOURITE MOVIES … STAY TUNED.” IT’S ALSO COME TO LIGHT THAT JON M CHU FRESH OFF HIS DIRECTORIAL DUTIES IN THIS WINTER’S LIVE VERSION OF THE MUSICAL WICKED WILL BE BEHIND THE CAMERA AND ON A DIRECTOR’S CHAIR, THIS SURE TO BE A MASSIVE HIT.

The movie will explore Spears’ childhood, her rise to fame, her struggles and the battle over her conservatorship against her greedy, very greedy parents.

Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Whitney Houston have all recently had biopics come out, they have been enjoyable but for me the best has been What’s love got to do with it. Tina Turner’s story Angela Bassett embodied Tina Turner so much so the real Tina thought Angela was too thin to play her and didn’t get the casting right, though when she saw her at rehearsals she gave her approval and became Bassetts mentor. Already an established actress with a promising career Angela, it was this role that made her a household name as she was nominated for an Oscar.

I asked an old work colleague as he’s the biggest Britney fan I know. Apart from Britney herself, who would he like to see play the 42-year-old Britney Jean Spears? He expressed he doesn’t want her cast in the movie as he fears critics would tear her apart, I do agree but if she was to, why not? she is the one who lived through it, she could have full creative control. She can act, Crossroads was a great movie. This would prove to the haters that she can work and she can function. She just needs to set the knives down and get rehearsing, there is no harm in getting an acting coach. The only drawback is that reliving it may cause more harm than good. My colleague thought it should go to an unknown actress or Stranger Things actress Mille Bobby Brown. Mille would be fantastic.

I have compiled a list of my Top 3 actresses who I think would be great at playing the role of this living legend.

NUMBER 3 - MELISSA BENOIST

Perhaps it would be suited for an actual Supergirl to take on the role of Britney ?. The Supergirl actress could easily embody Britney, but can she sing? Yes. She starred in Glee for a season and a half and covered Britney, you drive me crazy, and she Played Carole King on Broadway’s Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

NUMBER 2 - MICHELLE WILLIAMS

Please note, this column is the opinion of the columinst and not that of GNI or Romeo & Julian Publiccations Ltd.

This would be a nice little full circle moment as the Dawson’s Creek actress was the audio narrator for the book in question. Michelle Williams is one of the best actresses of our time with Multiple award wins including 2 Golden Globes, 1 Emmy and 6 Academy Award Nominations. We know she can sing and dance as we witnessed in The Greatest ShowMan, My week with Marylin and in her limited TV series Fosse/Verdon.

NUMBER 1 - HAYDEN PANETTIERE

The Heroes, Scream and Nashville actress has been forthcoming about her battles and struggles with addictions, her times in rehab and going through postnatal depression. She was also a young woman in the spotlight forced onto red carpet events, high on happy pills which were provided by those who should have been safeguarding her. This role could be extremely relatable. Hayden has made a small comeback with Scream 7, some interviews and an upcoming thriller ‘Amber Alert’ not to mention she will be publishing her own Memoir, a story not too far from the likes of the woman in me. She has an amazing singing voice especially after playing the role of complicated country star Juliette Barns in the fantastic TV show Nashville.

Other actresses I think could do the part Justice would be Lily James, Riley Keough, Miley Cyrus, Daisy Edgar Jones, Lilly Reinhart and Sydney Sweeney who is great and seems to be in everything these days.

All we can do now is dream and wonder until the official casting news is revealed.