Page 14 - aruba-today-20210120

A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 20 January 2021
Q&A: Kingsley Ben-Adir breaks out as Malcolm X

By LINDSEY BAHR really crumbling. There was
AP Film Writer a sense that his life was in
British actor Kingsley Ben- danger and there’s a feel-
Adir may not be a house- ing that Malcolm knew that
hold name yet, but that’s his time was maybe com-
poised to change with ing to an end.
his scene-stealing perfor- There’s this wonderful op-
mance as Malcolm X in portunity with this movie to
Regina King’s “One Night explore the humanity of this
in Miami....” The film, which “fearless demagogue.”
imagines an electric meet- Malcolm described to his
ing between the civil rights friend Dick Gregory that he
icon, Sam Cooke, Cas- felt weak and hollow and
sius Clay and Jim Brown in that nobody knew the tor-
February 1964, is currently ments that he was going
available on Prime Video. through at this time. Dick
The 35-year-old has been talks about Malcolm as a
a working actor for over a sweet and bashful man,
decade and has had more a kind man and a good-
than a few heartbreaks humored man and some-
and near-breaks along the one who would be em-
way. In his first film, “World barrassed if he could hear
War Z,” his speaking line us talking about him in this
with Brad Pitt was uncer- Kingsley Ben-Adir attends the premiere of “The OA” Season 2 on March 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. way now. And I just thought
emoniously cut. Then there Associated Press that was just gorgeous.
was the Ang Lee Muham- days before he was due on been edited for clarity and tent in my school. AP: That seems to belie the
mad Ali film that he spent set. brevity. AP: Who is Malcolm X at this imagery that we always
years testing and months in “I thought, I don’t know if AP: Was Malcolm X a figure moment in 1964? see of him.
active training for (he was I can prepare Malcolm X in your life growing up in Ben-Adir: Regina and I Ben-Adir: I feel like all of
to play Ali) that ended up in 12 days,” Ben-Adir said. the U.K.? were trying to figure out the all of the imagery that
losing its financing. “Then I was like, ‘I have to Ben-Adir: I grew up know- how far we could push the we’re used to, the stuff on
“One Night in Miami...” was do it.’” ing exactly who he was. I’d exploration of showing Mal- YouTube and the sound-
almost a missed opportu- Ben-Adir spoke to The Asso- read the autobiography colm as a father and as a bites... it’s always Malcolm
nity, too. His agents first sug- ciated Press — hours before at an earlier stage and he husband and as a man responding to usually the
gested him for Clay. He de- he’d pick up the break- was someone who I was who at this moment in time next day — or on the same
clined (“I felt too old”) but through actor award at the definitely aware of. I can’t was in a very, very vulner- day — as the most hideous
said to call him if anything Gotham Awards — about say the same for the edu- able situation. He was on instances of racism or po-
happened to the actor finding the humanity in the cation syllabus here. a ban from the Nation of lice brutality or political in-
playing Malcolm. Ben-Adir icon and the tricky logistics We weren’t taught much Islam and his relationship justice. It’s no wonder he’s
said he was partially joking, of playing both Malcolm X about African American with Elijah Muhammad, riled up and impassioned
but that call did come. He and Barack Obama at the history at all and Black Brit- who essentially was his fa- and angry in so much of
officially got the part just 12 same time. Remarks have ish history is almost non-exis- ther figure for 12 years, was that archive footage. q
Jazmine Sullivan, Eric Church, H.E.R. to sing at Super Bowl

By MESFIN FEKADU will join forces to sing the “America the Beautiful.” this year’s Grammys and year at last year’s Country
AP Music Writer national anthem at the The performances will Oscars telecasts, will serve Music Association Awards.
NEW YORK (AP) — R&B next month’s Super Bowl, take place Feb. 7 at the as an executive producer. H.E.R. won two Grammys
star Jazmine Sullivan and where Grammy-winning Raymond James Stadium Sullivan rose to the top in 2019 and has earned
country singer Eric Church singer H.E.R. will perform in Tampa before the big of the R&B charts in 2008 critical acclaim for her
game and halftime show with her debut single and live performances, includ-
starring The Weeknd. It will album. She’s earned 12 ing her work as a guitarist.
air on CBS. Grammy nominations and She’s won honors at the
Deaf rapper and record- written songs for Mary J. MTV Video Music Awards,
ing artist Warren “WAWA” Blige, Jennifer Hudson and BET Awards and Soul
Snipe will perform “The Monica. Her new album, Train Music Awards and
Star-Spangled Banner” “Heaux Tales,” debuted launched R&B hits such
and “America the Beauti- at No. 4 on this week’s as “Focus,” “Best Part,”
ful” in American Sign Lan- all-genre Billboard 200 al- “Slide,” “Damage” and
guage. Emmy-nominated bums chart. “B.S.” with Jhené Aiko.q
musical director Adam Church, a 10-time Grammy
Blackstone will arrange nominee, released his de- 5 4 2 1 7 6 9 3 8
and produce Church and but album in 2006 and has 7 1 8 9 3 4 2 5 6
Sullivan’s rendition of the topped the country charts 9 3 6 5 8 2 4 7 1
national anthem. with songs like “Drink In 1 2 9 3 4 7 6 8 5
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation com- My Hand,” “Springsteen,” 8 7 3 6 5 9 1 4 2
This combination photo shows Eric Church performing at the pany is executive produc- “Talladega” and “Record 6 5 4 8 2 1 7 9 3 2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
2016 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 29, 2016, left, ing the halftime show for a Year.” He’s released mul-
and Jazmine Sullivan performing at the Pre-Grammy Gala second year. Jesse Collins, tiple multiplatinum and 2 8 7 4 1 3 5 6 9
And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, who has produced the BET platinum albums and was 4 9 5 2 6 8 3 1 7
2019. 3 6 1 7 9 5 8 2 4
Associated Press Awards and is working on named entertainer of the Difficulty Level 1/20