Naomi Ackie, the star of "Blink Twice", reflects on the intense physical transformation she underwent for the 2022 biopic "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and how it has profoundly affected her self-perception.
Ackie, now 31, shared with "The Hollywood Reporter" that she lost 30 pounds to embody the late R&B/pop legend Whitney Houston, who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48 due to accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub.
“I was working hard, but not smart, and it took a toll on my mental health,” Ackie confessed, noting that after shedding the weight, she had finally achieved the size she had always aspired to.
“I became tiny, and I wanted to stay that way. I believed that being an American size 4 would open doors for me. It’s messed up, but the reality is, it does,” the British actress revealed.
She continued her rigorous gym routine and closely monitored her calorie intake in an attempt to maintain her smaller physique. However, a conversation with her boyfriend shifted her perspective.
“I asked him if he had any insecurities about his body, and he said no,” she recounted. “I was stunned and thought, ‘You’re not obsessing over calories like I am?’”
Ackie admitted, “This might be oversharing, but it could help someone. I reached a point while playing Whitney where I could name any food and instantly tell you its calorie content.”
Reflecting on that period, she expressed, “I feel so sad for myself now because I should have been enjoying life. I work hard to pay my rent and bills, and if I’m fortunate, there’s some money left over for travel and to eat whatever I want. So I should just eat and enjoy it!”
In contrast, her experience filming "Blink Twice" was vastly different in terms of its effect on her body image.
Before shooting began, the female cast members, along with director Zoë Kravitz, openly discussed their concerns about the scenes, many of which involved wearing bikinis while visiting a billionaire’s private island (played by Channing Tatum), who may have sinister intentions.
“I was like, ‘Alright, ladies, we’re going to be running around in bikinis, and I’ve got a full bust, so how are we going to keep everything secure?’” Ackie recalled. “And Zoë assured me, saying, ‘I’ve got you. I’ll never put you in a situation where you don’t feel comfortable. I want you to feel hot and confident.’”
Kravitz added, “If I can’t create a safe environment while making this film, then what am I even talking about? I wanted this production to be a space where we could explore these very emotions with the support of these incredible women."
"As an actor, I understand the vulnerability that comes with being on camera like that," she continued, "so I made sure to communicate what I would want to hear. Things like, ‘That angle isn’t the best; try turning this way instead.’”
The Quran - Chapter Al-Mulk : 03
˹He is the One˺ Who created seven heavens, one above the other. You will never see any imperfection in the creation of the Most Compassionate. So look again: do you see any flaws?
