Mumba relished challenge of drug addict role
Samantha Mumba revealed today her latest movie role as a drug addict in thriller Johnny Was brought a real challenge for her.
Ahead of her other movie a zombie horror flick, Boy Eats Girl, hitting the cinema screens next week, the pop singer turned actress said the Northern Ireland gangster movie had just finished filming.
“We just wrapped up in Belfast a few weeks ago, so that is probably going to be out next February or March,” the pop star said. “I’m looking forward to it, I probably won’t get to see a cut of it for another month or so.”
Johnny Was, which was filmed on a modest budget, carried a strong cast including Vinnie Jones, Patrick Bergin, ER star Eriq La Salle, boxing champ Lennox Lewis and Who singer Roger Daltrey.
She said: “It was a challenge anyway just being the only woman on set. That in itself was a challenge never mind the acting or doing anything else.”
In the film, Mumba plays Rita, the girlfriend of a drug-dealing London gangster who attracts the attention of another man with dangerous consequences.
“It is kind of the only female role in the film. She is a heroin addict, people have been harping on that but that just happens to be what she is, that is not what the story is about or what her storyline is about. It is kind of just giving a background on how messed up she is in her head. The thing I loved about the character is she kind of gets redemption in the end,” Mumba said.
“It is just nice to play someone totally different to who I would be every day. It is nice to go to work every morning and play pretend.”
Mumba made her movie debut in HG Well’s classic The Time Machine alongside Guy Pearce.
However, her lead role in the dark comedy Boy Eats Girl saw her play a schoolgirl, Jessica, whose boyfriend dies and then comes back to life as a flesh-eating zombie.
At the launch of Per Amore, a new underwear range from Dunnes Stores and MJM International, the creators of the renowned Ultimo range, the actress joked: “Ultimo, I have been wearing their underwear for years anyway, and anytime I’m accused of having a boob job or whatever, it is just that I have been wearing my trusty Ultimo bra, which gives the best cleavage in the world.”
Mumba, who was modelling a Bronte Bra from Per Amore, said the new range was on sale in Dunnes Stores outlets throughout the country.
