“My mom is so similar to Cissy Houston.” — Naomi Ackie

That's always the thing about biopics, you are stepping on moments in someone's life where you're making public something that is private.

I've really enjoyed, in my career, getting to play so many different roles. I'm starting to get really curious about who I can turn into next. Now I'm kind of like, 'what other ways can I transform myself?'

I've got friends, who were like, 'Oh my god, babe. You're playing Auntie Whitney.' They were like, 'We just call her Auntie Whitney in our house.' In the U.K., there's a very parasocial relationship with Whitney, because she was one of the icons.

At 11, I wanted to be an actress.