Marisa Abela transformed into Amy Winehouse as she continued filming on Back To Black alongside Eddie Marsan in London on Tuesday.
The actors were spotted re-enacting the musician’s court appearance in 2009 after she was on trial at Willesden Magistrates Court for assaulting a fan.
The 26-year-old actress was the spitting image of the late musician, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.
She had swept her hair back into Amy’s iconic beehive and wore the late star’s iconic eye makeup.
Marisa wore an almost identical suit to the Rehab singer, which featured oversized lapels and a matching mini skirt.
Recovery: Marisa Abela, 26, transformed into Amy Winehouse as she continued filming on Back To Black alongside Eddie Marsan, 54, in London on Tuesday
Filming: The actors (left) were seen re-enacting the musician’s court appearance in 2009, after she was on trial for assaulting a fan, at Willesden Magistrates Court (right, Amy pictured with Dad Mitch in court at year 2009).
On set: The actress was the spitting image of the late musician, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27
Meanwhile, Eddie, 54, who plays the singer’s father, Mitch, looked chic in a pinstripe suit and gray locks.
The scene saw Amy escorted by her father through the crowd of fans and photographers as they made their way into court.
At the real trial in July 2009, Amy was acquitted of assaulting dancer Sherene Flash after she was accused of punching her in the eye at a charity event.
Although prosecutors claimed it was a premeditated act, Amy told the court she felt intimidated by the drunk fan and claimed she was too small to have punched the dancer in the face.
Filming comes after Mitch Winehouse defended the controversial casting choice for the new biopic – after many claimed Marisa and Amy don’t look alike enough.
Dad Mitch doesn’t agree with the backlash when he shared this week that Marisa was a “great choice” and admitted it doesn’t matter if they “don’t look exactly the same”.
Speaking to TMZ about the new publication about his daughter, Mitch said, “Marisa is Marisa and Amy is Amy … so it’s no big deal if they’re not mirror images.
“Marisa is a great choice for the role.”
Iconic: She had her hair swept back into Amy’s iconic beehive and wore the late star’s iconic eye makeup
Accuracy: Marisa wore a nearly identical suit to the Rehab singer, which featured oversized lapels and a matching miniskirt
Crowds: Meanwhile, Eddie, 54, who plays the singer’s father, Mitch, looked chic in a pinstripe suit and gray locks
Packing up: Before the dramatic scenes, Marisa has wrapped herself up warm in a long, padded jacket and leg warmers
He added that Eddie Marsan, who plays Mitch, doesn’t look exactly like him either, noting, “There’s too much emphasis on looks.
“Because there are many Hollywood examples of actors who don’t look like their real life characters.”
Mitch’s defense comes as the casting choice of Marisa, known for playing Yasmin on BBC One TV series Industry, left many fans divided as they took to social media.
One fan tweeted, “Marisa Abela is a good actress but anyone who thinks she looks like Amy Winehouse needs to make an appointment with their optometrist.”
Beaming: Despite the emotional subject matter, Marisa appeared in high spirits as she chatted with the crew
Keeping Warm: She draped the jacket over her costume
Cold: Eddie was also outfitted with a coat to keep warm between scenes
Set: Willesden Magistrates Court doubles for Westminster Magistrates Court
“Marisa Abela looks nothing like Amy Winehouse,” echoed another.
A third added: “It’s not a good choice. #amywinehouse had a natural softness and vulnerability. but Marisa Abela just looks tough and mean as Amy. Forgiveness’.
Mitch and wife Janis are parents to Amy, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, and son Alex, 44.
But while the casting carries her parents’ seal of approval, Amy’s friends aren’t so convinced either.
One told The Mail on Sunday that they are unhappy with the casting of Marisa 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 Roedean-educated Ms. Abela with London-born Ms. Winehouse, who was known for her streetwise personality.
Real life: At the real life trial in July 2009, Amy was acquitted of assaulting dancer Sherene Flash after she was accused of punching her in the eye at a charity event
Not guilty: Although prosecutors claimed it was a premeditated act, Amy told the court she felt intimidated by the drunk fan and claimed she was too small to have punched the dancer in the face
“Nobody consulted us about Amy,” the friend said.
“How can it be authentic and accurate when they don’t know the real Amy nor the truth about what happened in her final years? We are against it and we are upset. Amy was absolutely amazing.’
Amy’s friends are also furious with the biopic’s creators for not asking her about the star’s life, claiming that executives working on Back To Black have not reached out to ask about their memories of the late singer to ask what fears the film will be inaccurate.
Tough: Marisa, known for her role on BBC show Industry, has faced casting backlash as fans claim she’s not the right one (pictured in December 2022)
Although it has been almost 12 years since Ms Winehouse was found unresponsive at her townhouse in Camden, north London, in July 2011, her grieving friends still believe it is early days to make a film like this.
Sources on the set of Back To Black – directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and named after Ms Winehouse’s hit 2006 album – say filming is only 10 weeks away.
An insider said: “It all feels very fast, almost a bit of a smash and grab.”
Many have also questioned that the film will be shot as a whole, accusing the project of “exploiting the singer’s legacy” and “harnessing on her trauma,” with some urging people to “just leave her alone.”