Belfast singer-songwriter Winnie Ama has described her recent foray into Hollywood as an 'alien' experience, quite literally. Ama secured a unique role in the new DC Studios Supergirl film, where she performs her original song, 'What Are We', translated into a fictional alien language.
The opportunity arose after a chance encounter with the film's director following a performance in a bar. Two weeks later, Ama and her pianist were invited for an official audition, leading to her casting as a singing alien. The role saw her character perform 'What Are We' in an alien bar on the planet Bilquis, which Supergirl visits during her adventures. Ama, who had never acted before, embraced the challenge, stating she had 'always wanted to be an alien'.
The translation of 'What Are We' into the Bilquis language was a meticulous process. An alien language specialist, known for creating other fictional languages such as Star Trek's Klingon, was brought in to ensure precise pronunciation and linguistic accuracy. Ama revealed that the specialist detailed the structure and origins of the Bilquis language, adding to the immersive experience.
Filming for the role, which took place at Leavesden, involved an elaborate transformation process. Ama described waking at 4 am to travel to set, where hair, make-up, and costume application took approximately four hours daily. Her character's appearance was entirely hand-applied, with a thorough 'scrub down' required at the end of each day of production.
The film, which was released last month, stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl and Jason Momoa as the bounty hunter Lobo. It follows a reluctant superhero on a mission to save her dog, Krypto, and explores themes of conflict and trauma. Ama noted that her song 'What Are We', released in 2020, resonated with the film's narrative, as it delves into questioning relationships and navigating fundamental disagreements, mirroring the internal and external struggles faced by Supergirl.
Ama believes this Supergirl film is particularly significant, presenting a less traditional superhero who grapples with real emotions and conflicts. She suggests the film is 'quite ahead of its time' in its portrayal of the character, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic hero for audiences.