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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Shaad D'Souza

‘Her demons were probably worse’: does Back to Black reveal the real Amy Winehouse?

Amy Winehouse Mitch Winehouse Blake FielderCivil United States Asif Kapadia Alcohol Freddie Mercury Rolling Stone
‘She was a 100% bona fide musician’: Amy, played by Marisa Abel, hits the studio
‘She was a 100% bona fide musician’: Amy, played by Marisa Abel, hits the studio. Photograph: Courtesy of Dean Rogers

From the moment it was announced, in July 2022, the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black has been plagued by controversy, with fans criticising everything from the casting choices (Industry star Marisa Abela plays the singer) to the timing, with some people claiming not enough years have passed since Winehouse’s death from alcohol poisoning in 2011.

Biopics of famous musicians can be hugely lucrative but they’re also a minefield. Bohemian Rhapsody, the 2018 Freddie Mercury biopic, was widely criticised for downplaying the singer’s gay partners in favour of his relationship with Mary Austin, but ended up grossing $910m (£718m).

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