Photo: Chris Haston/NBC
Debra Messingisn’t giving up her hopes of playingLucille Balljust yet.
Earlier this month,Deadlinereported thatNicole KidmanandJavier Bardemare in negotiations to star as Ball andDesi Arnazin the upcoming Aaron Sorkin film,Being the Ricardos, but the 52-year-old actress is still throwing her hat in the ring to play the lateI Love Lucystar even after the news of Kidman’s forthcoming role was made public.
Many fans of the actress disagreed with the casting choice and felt that Messing — who previously channeled Ball’sI Love Lucycharacter during an episode ofWill & Grace— would be a better fit over Kidman, 53.
“Love Nicole very much, but this is definatly [sic] the a part @DebraMessing was born for!!!!” one usertweetedas anotheradded, “Debra is Lucy reincarnated all the way!”
So when one social media userquestionedif Messing was “unavailable” to take on the part in the film, the actress denied the claim. “Oh no, I’m available,” shewrote, expressing interest in the part.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty
InBeing the Ricardos, Kidman and Bardem, 51, are in talks to embody the legendary Hollywood couple as the icons face a crisis that could end their careers and their marriage during the filming of their popular sitcomI Love Lucy.
Sorkin (The West Wing) has written the screenplay and will direct the film, although it’s unclear when production will start amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.
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I Love Lucyaired on CBS from 1951 to 1957 and spanned six seasons. Ball and Arnaz starred as married couple Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, as Lucy tries numerous schemes to be a part of showbusiness through Ricky’s nightclub.
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Messing has previously gone on the record as stating that she would never portray Ball, tellingVarietyin a 2020 interview that she “would not even touch” offers to play the legendary comedian in a film because she is simply “untouchable.”
But while talking with fans after the news surrounding Kidman’s casting was published, Messing backtracked on that statement. “Ummmmmmmmm I changed my mind,” the actresstweeted.
And while it is a longshot that the messages from fans on social media will prompt a change-up in casting and help Messing get the role in the forthcoming film, the actress does have one important supporter in her corner — Ball’s daughter,Lucie Arnaz.
In that same interview withVariety, Messing detailed that Arnaz, 69, gave her a stamp of approval behind the scenes of theI Love Lucytribute episode ofWill & Grace. “I was in the green dress. We were about to shoot the song and dance [number] and she walked in and she just looked at me and didn’t say anything.” Messing said. “Then she hugged me and she said, ‘This feels really good. It’s been a long time since I’ve hugged you,’ and everyone started to cry.”
“And then she smiled and she said, ‘I know how long you’ve been wanting to do this, Debra. And I’m so glad we were able to make it happen.'” And then I had to go [to the stage]," she added. “As I walked away, she said, ‘Break a leg, Mom.’ Everybody just flipped out and cried. It was really moving.”
source: people.com
