The ‘One Love’ actor spoke with ET.
Kingsley Ben-Adir’s commitment to authentically portraying Bob Marley required immense dedication and effort.
The actor delved into character preparation even while working on another project. In a recent interview with ET’s Kevin Frazier in London, promoting his new biopic, “Bob Marley: One Love,” Ben-Adir discussed the challenges of staying true to Marley’s language and authenticity.
Reflecting on the early stages of the film’s development, he emphasized the importance of not white-washing any aspects of the legendary musician’s life.
This involved Ben-Adir meticulously mastering Marley’s voice, cadence, and musicality. Expressing his enjoyment, Ben-Adir revealed his dedication to listening to Marley’s music and speeches, considering it an opportunity to immerse himself in Bob’s world.
Even during the filming of “Barbie,” where he portrayed one of the Kens, alongside Ryan Gosling and others, Ben-Adir continued his immersive approach.
He explained that with a three-and-a-half-month commitment, there was no time to waste, especially in grasping the guitar skills and language intricacies.
Utilizing downtime on film sets, he prioritized listening to Bob Marley to enhance his understanding of the language and guitar techniques.
Despite practicing and working to find Marley’s voice between shooting scenes for Barbie, Ben-Adir admitted that he didn’t really share his journey with anyone, explaining, “My process was private for as long as possible — until I needed help.”
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green — and produced in partnership with the Marley family — One Love also stars Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Tosin Cole, Anthony Welsh, Michael Gandolfini, Umi Myers, and Nadine Marshall.
The project is one of the first authorized biopics of the groundbreaking artist, and Bob’s son, Ziggy Marley, serves as a producer, alongside Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Robert Teitel, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, and Dede Gardner, and executive producers Richard Hewitt, Orly Marley, and Matt Solodky. Bob Marley: One Love hits theaters on Feb. 14.
