Christina Ricci read extensively to play novelist Zelda Fitzgerald

Mumbai March 27 (IANS) American actress Christina Ricci who features in the bio-series Z: The Beginning of Everything -- based on the life of novelist Zelda Fitzgerald and F. Scott Fitzgerald says she went through extensive reading to understand her character as Zelda.

Z: The Beginning of Everything is being brought to Indian audiences via Amazon Prime Video. It has been described as a telling of the passionate turbulent love affair and marriage of the two novelists and shows the alcoholism adultery and struggle with dashed dreams and mental illness that leads to Zelda s tragic untimely end.

Ricci known for her work in Sleepy Hollow and Grey s Anatomy spoke to IANS in an interview from New York about the role.

She said: Well I read everything I could really about her. These books based my introduction to her once we had the setup at Amazon. I started reading both of her biographies by Sally Cline and Nancy Milford. I also read a biography of him (Scott Fitzgerald)... I read all his novels and I read her novel as well. I just did tons and tons of reading.

David Hoflin plays Scott Fitzgerald in the series which has been told from Zelda s point of view.

Sharing an insight Ricci said: It s an interesting point of view. The story has never been told from Zelda s point of view before. In addition even the fact that Zelda s life has never been told on camera before (is interesting). I hope people see it and learn a little bit more about her.

Starting her career as a child actor Ricci acted in various television series and in films and bagged various awards including Young Artist Awards Satellite Awards and Florida Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Supporting Actress.

With Z: The Beginning of Everything releasing on a digital medium one asked Ricci to comment on the consumption of digital content which is increasingly the world over including in India.

To that Ricci said: Yes. I think that new media and the digitalization of television and film in entertainment will really have a global effect.

Of Indian cinema and its artistes there s not much Ricci could tell. But at the mention of Priyanka Chopra she said: I know who she is definitely.

Has she ever watched any of her work as an audience?

I believe I have. I cannot recall much but I believe I have seen her work she said.

Did she like her work?

Yes I do Ricci said of Priyanka who features in the American TV series Quantico as the protagonist.

--IANS
aru/rb/vt