Marisa Abela recreates Amy Winehouse court appearance amid criticism of Back To Black biopic

Marisa Abela transformed into Amy Winehouse as she continued filming Back To Black alongside Eddie Marsan in London on Tuesday.

The actors were seen reenacting the music’s 2009 court appearance after she went on trial for assaulting a fan, at Willesden Magistrates Court.

The 26-year-old actress was the spitting image of the late musician, who died of alcohol poisoning at age 27 in 2011.

She put her hair up in Amy’s iconic beehive and donned the late star’s iconic eye makeup.

Marisa wore a suit almost identical to the Rehab singer’s, featuring oversized lapels and a matching miniskirt.

Filming: The actors (left) were seen recreating the musician’s 2009 court appearance after she was tried for assaulting a fan, at Willesden Magistrates Court (right, Amy pictured with dad Mitch in court in 2009 )

On set: The actress was the spitting image of the late musician, who died of alcohol poisoning at age 27 in 2011.

Meanwhile, Eddie, 54, who plays the singer’s father Mitch, looked dapper in a pinstripe suit with gray hair.

The scene saw Amy being escorted by her father through the crowd of fans and photographers as they made their way to court.

In the real-life trial in July 2009, Amy was acquitted of assaulting dancer Sherene Flash after being accused of punching her in the eye at a charity event.

Despite prosecutors claiming it was a deliberate act, Amy told the court that she had been intimidated by the drunken fan and claimed she was too short to punch the dancer in the face.

The filming comes after Mitch Winehouse defended the controversial casting choice for the new biopic, after many claimed that Marisa and Amy don’t look close enough.

Dad Mitch takes issue with the backlash when he shared this week that Marisa is a “great choice,” admitting that it doesn’t matter if they “don’t look exactly alike.”

chatting with TMZ On the new pitch about his daughter, Mitch said: ‘Marisa is Marisa and Amy is Amy… so it’s not a big deal if they’re not mirror images.

“Marisa is a great choice for the role.”

Iconic: Slicked her hair back into Amy’s iconic beehive and donned the late star’s iconic eye makeup

Accuracy: Marisa wore a suit nearly identical to the Rehab singer’s, featuring oversized lapels and a matching miniskirt.

Crowds: Meanwhile, Eddie, 54, who plays the singer’s father Mitch, looked smart in a pinstripe suit sporting gray locks

Wrapping Up: Before the dramatic scenes, Marisa bundled up in a long puffer jacket and leg warmers.

He went on to say that Eddie Marsan, who plays Mitch, doesn’t exactly look like him either, noting, “There’s too much emphasis on looks.

“Because there are so many examples in Hollywood of actors who don’t look like their real-life character.”

Mitch’s defense comes as the casting choice of Marisa, known for playing Yasmin on the BBC One television series Industry, left many fans divided when they took to social media.

One fan tweeted: “Marisa Abela is a good actress but anyone who thinks they look anything like Amy Winehouse needs to make an appointment with their eye doctor.”

Radiant: Despite the emotional topic, Marisa appeared in high spirits while chatting with the team.

Keeping warm: she put the jacket over her costume

Cold: Eddie was also given a coat to keep warm between scenes.

Joint: Willesden Magistrates Court doubled for Westminster Magistrates Court

“Marisa Abela is nothing like Amy Winehouse,” repeated another.

As a third party added: ‘Not a good choice. #amywinehouse had a natural softness and vulnerability. but Marisa Abela, like Amy, just looks tough and mean. I’m sorry’.

Mitch and his wife Janis are the parents of Amy, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, and their 44-year-old son Alex.

But while the casting has her parents’ stamp of approval, Amy’s friends aren’t so convinced either.

One told The Mail on Sunday that they are not happy with Marisa’s casting because, despite the near-perfect wig she wears and identical tattoos, they don’t think she looks like the rehab singer.

They also contrast the social background of the Roedean-educated Ms Abela with the London-born Ms Winehouse, known for her street persona.

Real life: In the real life trial in July 2009, Amy was acquitted of assaulting dancer Sherene Flash after being accused of punching her in the eye at a charity event.

Not Guilty: Despite prosecutors claiming it was a deliberate act, Amy told the court she had been intimidated by the drunken fan and claimed she was too short to have punched the dancer in the face

“No one asked us about Amy,” the friend said.

‘How can you be authentic and accurate if you don’t know the real Amy or the truth about what happened in her later years? We are against this and we are upset. Amy was absolutely amazing.

Amy’s friends are also furious with the creators of the biopic for not asking them about the star’s life, saying executives working at Back To Black have not contacted them about their memories of the late singer, raising fears that the film will be inaccurate.

Tough: Marisa, known for her role on BBC show Industry, received backlash over casting as fans claim she’s the wrong one (pictured December 2022)

Even though it’s been nearly 12 years since Winehouse was found unconscious at her home in Camden, north London, in July 2011, her heartbroken friends still believe it’s too early to make such a film.

Sources on the set of Back To Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and named after Winehouse’s 2006 hit album, say filming is only due in the last 10 weeks.

A source said: “It all feels very fast, almost a bit of a smash and grab.”

Many also doubted the film would be made in its entirety, accusing the project of “exploiting the singer’s legacy” and “capitalizing on her trauma”, with some calling on people to “just put her to rest”.