Amy Winehouse biopic: Marisa Abela and Eddie Marsan are seen on set for the first time

Filming on the highly anticipated Amy Winehouse biopic, Back To Black, has begun.

British actress Marisa Abela transformed into the late singer, donning Amy’s iconic black beehive for filming in central London on Monday.

Marisa grabbed the arm of actor Eddie Marsan, who plays Amy’s father Mitch, as they filmed scenes outside the famed Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, where the singer performed early in her career.

Marisa wore a black leather jacket and mini dress for the scenes, carried a leather bag, and sported Amy’s signature hairstyle and gold hoop earrings.

With lashes of winged eyes, the actress was the spitting image of the tragic singer, who died of alcohol poisoning at age 27 in 2011.

She was joined on set by Eddie, best known for his role in Happy-Go-Lucky and, most recently, the 2022 drama The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.

The two linked arms as cameras rolled outside Ronnie Scott’s, a well-known haunt of Amy’s.

Amy recalled in a 2006 interview with the New Camden Journal that her grandmother once dated musician Ronnie and explained that ‘after he died we went there, we did a concert’.

“I was singing a tune, and I don’t care if people are talking, I actually like it if people are talking because it gives me a chance to get into one with the band, and my dad was in the audience. ‘

He turned to whoever was in the audience and said, “Do you want to shut your mouth?” and this man says “sorry” and it was Mick Jagger. And my dad goes, “It was just Mick Jagger!”

Over the weekend, fans got their first look at Marisa as Amy in the first look at the upcoming biopic.

The British actress, 26, was the spitting image of the tragic singer as she sported her trademark black beehive and tattoos.

The image showed the star onstage singing in the new movie, which will be directed by Sam Taylor Johnson.

Marisa also posted a heartfelt tribute to Amy when the image was posted, writing on Instagram on Friday: “And to London.” This is for London. Because Camden Town is not burning.” I love you, Amy.

Marisa is known for her role in the BBC and HBO drama Industry and will appear in the Barbie movie, which will be released in July 2023.

The film is expected to follow Winehouse’s life as a talented jazz singer in north London until her rise as a global superstar with her second album, 2006’s Back to Black, which featured her hit single Rehab.

She became one of five women at the time to win five Grammy Awards in one night, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

The singer had problems with alcohol and drug abuse throughout her career, and died in 2011 at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning.

A24’s 2015 documentary Amy won the Best Documentary Oscar, although this will be the first biopic to deal with her life, although other versions were in the works.

In 2015 it was announced that Noomi Rapace had signed on to star in a Winehouse biopic for Lotus Entertainment.

Kristen Sheridan, the daughter of In America director Jim Sheridan, was set to direct and write the script, though it never moved forward.

Then, in October 2018, it was announced that Winehouse’s family had signed a deal with Monumental Pictures for a biopic.

Kinky Boots writer Geoff Deane was hired to pen the script, with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward serving as producers.

Four years later, the project moved to StudioCanal with Taylor-Johnson, though both Owen and Hayward continue to produce, along with Tracey Seaward.

The project is being carried out with the ‘full support’ of the Winehouse estate.

Taylor-Johnson began her career directing music videos, including Elton John’s I Want Love and The Weeknd’s Earned It.

He made his film debut with 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey, and went on to direct A Million Little Pieces and two episodes of Amazon’s Solos.