Before her death in 2022, the Ronettes’ iconic lead singer Ronnie Spector chose Zendaya to portray her in the upcoming biopic Be My Baby, which will be produced by A24. To fuel the hype, acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins has joined the project to direct it. This project will bring the amazing life story of Spector to the screen with honesty and sensitivity, honoring her legacy as music icon and trailblazer.
Ronnie Spector, who sang the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain” in the 1960s, became a household name. She became the quintessential pop icon with her voice and style.
Her marriage to Phil Spector in 1968 was marked by abuse, with Ronnie detailing in her memoir how Phil installed bars on their mansion windows and threatened her life. They divorced in 1974, after which she reformed the Ronettes and pursued a solo career, releasing albums like Siren (1980) and collaborating with artists like Eddie Money on “Take Me Home Tonight” (1986), which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 with the Ronettes, she continued performing until her death on January 12, 2022, from cancer at age 78.
The biographical drama takes its cue from her memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette, which she co-authored with Vince Waldron. The movie will follow her life, with her strength and the issues that confronted her being the point of reference.
Ronnie Spector personally selected Zendaya to portray her, a decision first reported in September 2020. While no direct interview from Spector explains her choice, evidence suggests it was based on their personal connection and Zendaya’s suitability for the role. They met in 2018, and Zendaya, in a 2022 Instagram tribute after Spector’s death, noted,
“Being able to know you has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Thank you for sharing your life with me, I could listen to your stories for hours and hours”
Zendaya, at 24 in 2020, had recently won an Emmy for Euphoria, becoming the youngest lead actress winner, and had musical experience from her 2013 hit “Replay.” Her ability to handle complex, dramatic roles, as seen in Euphoria, likely aligned with the biopic’s focus on Spector’s abusive marriage.
Directing the film Be My Baby is Barry Jenkins, the director of the Oscar-winning films Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. Jenkins has become known for his ability to tell emotionally rich and visually stunning stories and thus is the perfect director to bring the complicated story of Spector to the screen. His casting confirms the film will not only acknowledge her musical achievement but explore the personal struggles that characterized her life.
