Zendaya in Be My Baby: a biopic, a challenge, a dream come true
The actress plays Ronnie Spector in the film Be My Baby, directed by Barry Jenkins. A performance that promises to be intense and intimate.
A strong role, tailor-made for her
Zendaya was looking for a character to match her maturity as an actress. In Ronnie Spector, she found a complex, flamboyant and vulnerable figure. The Ronettes singer, icon of the sixties, left her mark on her era. Her voice, her figure and her inner strength become the material for a powerful film. Zendaya wants to embody, but also to understand. She enters this role with a rare, almost personal desire.
Barry Jenkins to direct: a promising alliance
To bring this project to life, Zendaya enlists the help of director Barry Jenkins, known for Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. His sensitive, visually masterful cinematography is a perfect match for Ronnie Spector’s destiny. He captures light and shadow, glamour and pain. The Zendaya/Jenkins duo is creating enormous anticipation. We’re already talking about a major performance.
A musical film, but not only
Be My Baby is no simple musical biopic. The film will tell the story of Ronnie Spector’s meteoric rise, his toxic relationship with Phil Spector, and his resilience. It will also explore the weight of celebrity, racism in the music industry, and the erasure of women in rock history. Zendaya will have to sing, dance, suffer and assert herself. It’s a total role, a demanding playground.
Zendaya producer and actress: a power grab
More than just a role, Zendaya is the film’s producer. She steers the project from the inside. She chooses the teams, participates in the writing, gets involved in the details. She doesn’t just want to play Ronnie. She wants to tell her story accurately, avoiding clichés. This posture reinforces her artistic legitimacy. She asserts her place in cinema, far beyond her pop image.
With Be My Baby, Zendaya leaves her teenage roles behind and moves into the big league of actresses. This film could well be her defining moment, the one that redefines her career. Shooting scheduled for 2025, release expected in 2026. One thing’s for sure: audiences are already ready.
