Six-time Oscar nominee director Jim Sheridan has unveiled details of his new biopic of soul singer Dusty Springfield which he says is inspired by the star's largely unknown Irish heritage.
The acclaimed star, whose songs included I Only Want to Be with You, Son of A Preacher Man, and You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, spent most of her adult life in the UK and the US, died in 1999 and had her ashes cast off the dramatic Cliffs of Moher in Claire.
The film's producers hope to make a cast announcement in the coming weeks.
Billed as the story of a "Soul Singing Sensation…..Magnificent 60s Icon…….Trailblazer Social Activist", Dusty tells the story of the woman who was born Mary O’Brien to Irish immigrant stock in London, came out as gay in 1972, was kicked out of South Africa in 1965 for refusing to sing in front of a segregated audience, and fought for dozens of other causes while embracing the 'Swinging 60s and struggling with her own demons.
Speaking about the new film, Sheridan who also directed My Left Foot, and Some Mother’s Son and Get Rich or Die Tryin’ with rapper 50 Cent, said, "I am tremendously excited to be part of the project and to take on the challenge of telling the story and revelling in the music of an extraordinary woman and singing sensation.
"She wore every cause on her sleeves and fought against racism, promoted gender equality and gay pride at great cost to her personal and professional life.
"Her life and her music are built for a biopic of this type and her Irish background and life among the Irish diaspora of London really appeals to me and it is a world that I know very well. She was a remarkable woman, decades ahead of her time."
Sheridan is sharing the writing credit with young British writer, Sameera Steward who had been working on an adaptation of the biography of the star by Karen Bartlett, Dusty Springfield 'An Intimate Portrait of a Music Legend.
According to a press release from the filmmakers, "Dusty tracks the journey taken by the young Mary O'Brien - from her shy and timid persona with a hauntingly unique singing voice - into her triumphant alter ego, Dusty Springfield.
"Secretly gay, Mary, lived her life trapped in agonising silence before overcoming her convent school, Irish Catholic background, to transform herself into a daring alter ego - Dusty Springfield. Her silky, and sensual voice went on to define the sound of the sixties."
Sheridan added, "Suffering for her challenges, fighting other people’s causes, she endured mental agony before finally reconciling herself and her sexuality in harmony with her music and her audience. In the end, Dusty reconnects with the real Mary O’Brien and is happy to do so and that is the essence of the story we are keen to capture."
Dusty will be released in 2025
