Marisa Abela transforms into Amy Winehouse during night time filming for the Back To Black biopic

Industry’s Marisa Abela transformed into Amy Winehouse as she continued filming on the Back To Black biopic in London on Tuesday.

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 while filming the highly anticipated film.

She channeled the late singer in a leopard print top and sweatpants, drinking from a bottle while surrounded by crew members during the late night shoot.

Marisa, who also wore a pair of pink hoop earrings and Amy’s signature pumps, walked alone around Camden, where the star lived before her death.

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.

Deadringer: Industry’s Marisa Abela transformed into Amy Winehouse as she continued filming on the Back To Black biopic in London on Tuesday

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.”

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.”

“Marisa Abela looks nothing like Amy Winehouse,” echoed another.

In character: 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 while filming the highly anticipated film

Tragic: She channeled the late singer in a leopard print top and joggers

Acting: Marisa drank from a bottle while surrounded by crew members during the night’s shooting

Outfit: She wore a pair of pink hoop earrings and Amy’s signature pumps

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.

“Nobody consulted us about Amy,” the friend said.

His side: 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

Defense: Dad Mitch disagrees with the backlash when he shared this week that Marisa is a ‘great choice’

Tough: Marisa, best known for her role on BBC show Industry, has faced casting backlash as fans claim she’s not the right one

Casting: Speaking to TM Z 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.”

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

“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.

Although it has been almost 12 years since Mrs 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 set to last 10 weeks.

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.”

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk