Actor defends putting star’s years of abuse on the stage
THE STAR of the musical about Tina Turner’s life has said it was important the show did not shy away from the domestic abuse the singer suffered at the hands of her ex-husband Ike.
Speaking at a lunch organised to celebrate this year’s Olivier Award nominees, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who plays Ike, said the hit musical was a “truthful representation” of the famous soul vocalist’s life.
Tina’s troubled marriage to Ike began in 1962 and ended in 1978 two years after they split. In her autobiography I, Tina, the singer revealed multiple instances of severe domestic abuse.
Holdbrook-Smith said: “In terms of how we handle it dramatically, we don’t shy away from it because it’s an important part of the story – of their history.
“It’s a very truthful representation of the difficulty that came from the acrimony between the two.”
US actress Adrienne Warren, who plays Tina, said the pair had needed the utmost trust to act out scenes of violence in the West End production.
Warren said: “I think trust is a big factor for the two of us specifically, for the Ike and Tina characters.
“We do check in every single night with each other. You have to be able to know that they have your back no matter what.”
Tina: The Musical is nominated at the Olivier Awards in the best new musical, best actor in a musical and best actress in a musical categories.
The news comes as Sir Ian McKellen, Gillian Anderson and David Suchet are in the running for Olivier Awards.
Stage and screen star Sir Ian has landed his 11th Olivier nomination, this time for his performance in King Lear, at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
Former Poirot actor Suchet is also among the best actor nominees, for his role in Arthur Miller play The Price at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Anderson is up for best actress for All About Eve at the Noel Coward Theatre, in the retelling of the classic Hollywood film. The awards take place on April 7 at the Royal Albert Hall. KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH: Said abuse was important part of Tina Turner’s life.