The world is mourning the loss of rock and roll legend Ronnie Spector. Emmy winner Zendaya, who is set to portray Spector in a biopic from A24, honored her on Instagram to share condolences and thoughts after news broke of her death.
“This news just breaks my heart. To speak about her as if she’s not with us feels strange as she is so incredibly full of life,” Zendaya wrote. “There’s not a time I saw her without her iconic red lips and full teased hair, a true rockstar through and through. Ronnie, being able to know you has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
In the Instagram slideshow post, she also shared a never-before-seen photo of herself with Spector.
She continued, “Thank you for sharing your life with me. I could listen to your stories for hours and hours. Thank you for your unmeasured talent, your unwavering love for performing, your strength, resilience and your grace. There is absolutely nothing that could dim the light you cast. I admire you so much and am so grateful for the bond we share. You are a magical force of greatness and the world of music will never be the same. I wish everyone got to experience you the way I did. We celebrate your beautiful life and give you all the flowers you so rightfully deserve. Rest in great power Ronnie. I hope to make you proud.”
It was first announced in September 2020 that Zendaya was in talks for the role and had been tapped by Spector herself.
At the time, A24 had just closed the deal for Spector’s life rights and Be My Baby, the autobiography Spector wrote with Vince Waldron. Pulitzer winner Jackie Sibblies Drury was in talks to write the script. Marc Platt will produce and Jonathan Greenfield is executive produce. Zendaya was set executive producer too, as well as Spector.
