Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Tyren Redd
Bria Danielle Singleton can currently be seen playing Bobbi Kristina in the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Singleton talked to NYOTA about taking on such a daunting role, working closely with Naomi Ackie, and her advice for aspiring actors.
What initially sparked your interest in acting?
I began acting at eight months old, so the interest came a little later. I always liked auditioning and working, so I guess the interest came as soon as I understood what I was doing. I have a funny story. When my sister and I were younger, we thought the auditions were actual acting jobs.
You can currently be seen playing Bobbi Kristina in I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Did you do a lot of research to figure out how you wanted to portray her?
Yes, I had to do research on Bobbi Kristina’s life. I watched lots of videos and read articles about her. I came across videos of her and her mom at performances, and I also watched the reality TV shows she was in with her family. I wanted to know who she was, what her personality was like, and how she interacted with people. When portraying a real person, you want to respect them by being as close as possible to who they were in their everyday life.
Playing a real-life person in a television show or movie can be daunting. Did you feel the weight of playing Bobbi Kristina when you got cast?
Absolutely. I felt I had a huge responsibility to portray Bobbi Kristina in the best light possible. Bobbi Kristina was the daughter of one of the biggest artists of all time and was loved by her parents, family, friends, and many fans across the entire world. I knew I had to bring her quiet, soft-spoken, and sweet spirit to the screen. She loved her mom so much, and because all of the scenes I had were with Naomi Ackie, I wanted to make sure the audience could see and feel the love and admiration she had for her mom.
Did you learn a lot from working closely with Naomi Ackie?
Yes, I learned a lot from Naomi Ackie. Watching Naomi in the role of Whitney Houston blew me away. I watched her between takes and how she stayed focused and would do mouth warmups. I watched little things she would do with her hands and certain facial expressions. I was also blown away when she would speak to everyone in an American accent the entire time on set. She was Whitney Houston all day. Naomi also told me to never allow my voice to go unheard. She told me to always speak up for myself when I am not comfortable, not feeling well physically, mentally, etc., or if I need a break.
Outside of acting, what are some of your other creative outlets?
I am actively a part of the drama program at my school. There I work behind the scenes doing more tech jobs. Currently, I’m working on props, which is really fun, and I get to be really creative. The last play we put on, I was the assistant director which was one of the most challenging but super fun positions. I also enjoy cooking different meals for my family. I am a vegetarian, and it is getting easier to find new recipes online, especially on TikTok.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
I would tell aspiring actors to make sure this is something they really love doing. Also, overnight success is rare, so if you’re doing it just to become famous right away, it is not the job for you. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I would also tell them to always practice their craft. Take classes, take up a sport or a special skill. Even the best actors train.