Lady Gaga to play Cilla Black in Dionne Warwick biopic

The US pop superstar will play the late British icon
New role: Lady Gaga will play Cilla Black in new biopic
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Jennifer Ruby13 May 2016
The Weekender

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Lady Gaga is set to play late British star Cilla Black in a new Dionne Warwick biopic.

The unlikely casting was announced by Warwick at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday.

The film, which will star former Destiny’s Child singer LeToya Luckett as Warwick, will reportedly feature Black as Warwick’s ‘musical nemesis’.

Speaking about the casting of Luckett, Warwick, 75, said: “She is perfect and she has exactly the right look. She will bring out what is needed for this part.”

Cilla Black (1943-2015)

1/17

Attempting to explain why national treasure Black was being portrayed as her ‘nemesis’, Warwick simply said: “Because she stole my music.”

Danny Glover will also appear in the biopic, simply titled Dionne, starring as the musical legend’s father.

Olympia Dukakis will play Marlene Dietrich, who was Warwick’s mentor in her early years and who she credits as “doing everything” for her.

Warwick hinted that a number of famous faces could pop up in the film, saying: “There'll be a lot of surprises.”

The star told press that her team are currently in talks with Mario Van Peebles to direct the film, which will cover the period of Warwick’s career from 1962-1968.

Gaga, better known for her pop career rather than her acting, most recently starred in American Horror Story.

Much-loved star Black, who had a prolific singing and presenting career, passed away in August 2015.

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