An Amy Winehouse biopic is finally in the works, with Sam Taylor Johnson set to direct a film from Studiocanal: Back To Black. Before being known for her work on Fifty Shades of Grey, she directed Nowhere Boy (2009): a well-received picture of the boyhood of John Lennon, starring her now husband Sam Taylor Johnson. It's hoped that the first portrayal of the iconic singer-songwriter will be a good one.
The Oscar-nominated documentary Amy (2015) did not shy away from the complicated aspects of her short life, so the film and its casting must be careful in it's portrayal of this sensitive soul. Legendary casting director Nina Gold (known for her work on Les Miserables) is searching for an actor to take on the role, apparently searching theatre and drama schools for someone to turn into a star (Daily Mail). But if that doesn't work out, these 10 actors are more than worthy of the iconic role.
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner, most well known as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, may have a shot at the role. At 26 and from the south of England, she is close to the right age and could maybe even slip into a north London accent. She has proven to have an excellent singing voice, though preferring to rap, as seen on The Late Late Show.
Nina Gold was, in fact, the casting director for Game of Thrones and actually cast Turner as Sansa Stark, plucking the young actress from obscurity. Therefore, Turner may be in the back of her mind for the role of Amy. She would have to wear brown lenses, however, as she has piercing blue eyes, unlike Amy.
Bel Powley
Bel Powley is an English actress most known for the Apple TV series The King of Staten Island (2020). She gained critical praise for her turn as a teenager Minnie in Diary of A Teenage Girl (2015), coming of age film by Marielle Heller in which she significantly played down her age.
Back To Black will likely be a coming-of-age tale at heart, and even at age 30, Powley could convincingly play a 20-year-old. In addition, like Amy, she is of Jewish heritage and hails from London, although from the posher borough of Hammersmith.
Imogen Poots
Also hailing from Hammersmith, Imogen Poots is an actress that got her start as the lead in Danny Boyle's sequel 28 Weeks Later. She has continued to star in various indie projects, most recently working alongside Jesse Eisenberg in The Art of Self Defense (2019) and Vivarium (2019). She also participated in the Oscar-winning film, The Father. With dark hair and brown eyes, it isn't hard to imagine Poots as Amy.
However, Nina Gold has made comments about actors and their class, saying "While you can act up a class, you can’t, or at least shouldn’t ever, act down" in a profile in The Guardian. As Amy was a working-class hero of sorts, perhaps Gold would decide to cast an actress from more humble beginnings.
Maya Hawke
A long shot, Maya Hawke is the American actress known for Stranger Things and as the daughter of new Hollywood legends Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. At age 24, Maya is a bit of an "it girl" at the moment, and perhaps a role a little left of field would be exactly what she needs at this point in her career.
She also is a singer-songwriter herself, having just recently released a soulful single from her second album, Moss. Provided she could capture Amy's prominent cockney accent, the role may suit her perfectly.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy is an American-English actress well-recognized for many high-profile projects. She won a Golden Globe for her role in Last Night In Soho (2021), her excellent singing ability was also spotlighted. Proven to be a versatile actress, it's likely that she would take to the role of Amy well. Anya has a unique look, as did Amy, although they do not look similar.
In an interview with ABC News, she even sings an excerpt from the early Amy Winehouse track, "Stronger Than Me," showing she is a fan of her work and would endeavor to represent her with grace.
Lucy Boynton
The English actress is best known for American roles in Ryan Murphy's show Bohemian Rhapsody. Her real-life partner, Rami Malek, won an Oscar for playing Mercury, so perhaps Boynton could achieve the same.
Born in New York City, she grew up in London and has described herself as "painfully British." That said, Boynton is currently signed on to play an iconic American singer-songwriter in a biopic of the life of Marianne Faithfull and may not have time to work on both projects.
Lady Gaga
A fan favorite to take the role of Amy, pop star and Oscar-nominated actress, Lady Gaga, real name Stephani Germanotta, could be cast. Not only do they have a physical likeness, but Lady Gaga is also privy to the effects of stardom and the pressure of fame that Amy dealt with. Fans on TikTok have been putting together pictures to prove their similarities in looks, making her worthy for the role in the biopic.
It's unlikely that Gaga will be cast, however. Not only did she play in a very similar rags-to-riches story in A Star Is Born, but her age, at 36, is also at odds with the time period of the film.
Millie Bobby Brown
Young Stranger Things star, Millie Bobby Brown, has previously expressed interest in playing Amy. In an interview with Netflix Latinoamerica, the then 16-year-old said, "I just love her music, and I really was impacted by her whole story. And so, I always say that I would love to play her." Indeed she has performed renditions of her music on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and in self-ed videos on social media.
At age 18, it may be argued that she is slightly young for the role, but Amy signed her first music contract with EMI at age 19 and the film may explore her life even earlier. With her signature beehive and eyeliner, Bobby Brown would have the look down. It may also be the ideal role for her to progress into adult roles, as Stranger Things enters its final season.
Emma Mackey
Although often noted for her similarities in looks to Margot Robbie, until Greta Gerwig's Barbie is released, that is.
Lola Young
Lola Young is not an actress, but she is an up-and-coming British singer-songwriter with black hair, gold jewelry, and a powerful, soulful voice. Her vocals featured on the highly anticipated John Lewis Christmas advert in the UK, as she covered the '80s track "Together in Electric Dreams" by Philip Oakey.
Growing up in South London, she immersed herself in music from a young age, like Amy, and spent time at the iconic Brit School, like Amy. At age 20, it could be possible for the film to be created around her and for her to showcase a naturalistic acting style- being a natural-born creative performer. It would be a unique artistic choice, but those are often ideas that pull off the most spectacularly.
