English actress Naomi Ackie is set to portray Whitney Houston in the upcoming film Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Ackie, who has previously appeared in British productions such as Doctor Who, was cast in the role in December 2020 and has received the support of Houston’s family and colleagues.

Naomi Ackie Is Whitney Houston

Among Naomi Ackie’s supporters for the role of Whitney Houston are the late singer’s sister-in-law and former manager Pat Houston and producer Clive Davis. Davis praised Ackie’s extraordinary acting range and her ability to masterfully capture Whitney’s unique charm, star power, and, personal struggles. Pat Houston also praised Ackie’s quality performances and deep commitment to the role.

Actress Naomi Ackie has known that she wanted to pursue a career in acting since she was a child. In an interview, she revealed that she first realized her passion for acting at the age of 11, when she played the angel Gabriel in a school nativity play. Despite the challenges of the industry, Ackie is grateful for the journey and the self-discovery it has allowed her. She attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she graduated in 2014, and counts Judi Dench, Andrew Garfield, and Joe Alwyn among her fellow alumni.

Ackie Has Had a Successful Career

Ackie has already established herself as a notable presence in the entertainment industry, with appearances in several major productions. She made her television acting debut on Doctor Who in 2015 and later appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Master of None season 3. Ackie is set to continue her successful career with a starring role in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and other roles that are on the horizon.

Ackie has been recognized for her acting talents with several awards, including the British Academy Television Award and the British Independent Film Award. In addition to her acting career, Ackie is also a talented singer. During the audition process for Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Ackie impressed the director with her vocal abilities, singing in the same range as Houston. While Houston’s actual voice will be used for the film’s musical moments, Ackie’s singing skills have added some interesting film possibilities, according to director Kasi Lemmons.

Naomi Ackie devoted a great deal of time and effort to accurately portray Whitney Houston in the upcoming movie. In addition to perfecting Houston’s accent and singing style by listening to her music and watching old videos, Ackie also worked to capture Houston’s public and private persona. She referenced the childhood nickname that Houston’s closest family and friends used to refer to her and studied interviews to get a sense of the different facets of Houston’s personality. Ackie aimed to understand the factors that contributed to Houston’s comfort or irritation, and what prompted her to reveal different sides of herself.

According to Naomi Ackie, her portrayal of Whitney Houston not only helped her to better understand the iconic singer but also inspired her to find her voice and speak up for herself. She shared how she learned to use her voice on set to ensure that she was well-supported and able to give the best performance possible.

Fall brings with it a stunning array of colors, a wondrous ambiance, and a cornucopia of fresh produce, such as pumpkins! There are many different recipes that make use of pumpkins, such as pumpkin pie, cream soup, and many others. This fall, be sure to try out this easy and yummy baked pumpkin oatmeal recipe that makes a delicious breakfast and can keep for a few days in the fridge!

What’s Needed for This Baked Oatmeal Recipe

For a dish that yields around eight servings, you’ll need:

• Four cups of rolled oats
• A teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• A teaspoon and a half of grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• A pinch of ground cloves
• 4 large eggs
• Two-thirds of a cup of raw pepitas (divided)
• A 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree
• A third of a cup of maple syrup
• One and three-quarters of a cup of cashew milk (or your milk of choice)
• One tablespoon and one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger
• 6 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin)
• A tablespoon of vanilla extract
• Three ripe D’Anjou pears sliced into half-inch pieces (fill about 3 cups)

Prepping This Oatmeal Dish

Let your oven start heating to 375 Fahrenheit. In a bowl, put together the oats, one-third of a cup of pepitas, salt, cloves, nutmeg, and baking powder. In a different bowl, whisk the four eggs. Whisk in the cashew milk, pumpkin pure, ginger, oil, vanilla, and maple syrup. Stir in the dry ingredients until they’re just combined.

Bake and Serve

Get your 9 by 13-inch baking dish and lightly oil it. Scatter most of the pears on the bottom of the tray, keeping one cup of pears. Spread the oatmeal and pumpkin batter in the baking dish and scatter the remaining pears on top. Do the same with the remaining pepitas. Bake the dish for 40-50 minutes until it looks properly set and the edges start to brown. Let it cool for a few minutes. Serve and enjoy!