I was super excited to read that Irish actress Ruth Negga has been cast as Nell Gwyn in the upcoming film Monstrous Beauty — and keep hoping some images will come out, but no dice (I’m not sure they’re actually filming yet?). Nonetheless, she’s starting to make a name for herself in frock flicks, so let’s see where her historical film career has taken her so far!
Leah in The Nativity (2010)
A BBC miniseries about the birth of Jesus. Per Wikipedia, “According to the scriptures, God saw that Leah was “unloved” and opened her womb as consolation. Through her sons Levi and Judah, she is thus the matriarch of both the priestly (Levite) and royal (Judahite) tribes in Israel.”
Shirley Bassey in Shirley (2011)
A BBC TV biopic about the life of singer Shirley Bassey, who sang many of the Bond themes.
Mildred in Loving (2016)
She plays Mildred Loving, a Black woman married to a white man in Virginia. Their 1967 legal case went before the Supreme Court and resulted in the end of anti-miscegenation (interracial marriage) laws. I tried to watch it on a plane and it was verrrrry slow for that, but Trystan liked it!
Clare in Passing (2021)
In this adaptation of Negga plays a 1929 novel, Negga plays a Black woman passing as white and how that affects her relationships.
What’s your favorite of Ruth Negga’s historical roles?
She was brilliant in Loving. It maybe slow, but it’s a beautiful love story.
I just added Passing to my Netflix queue!
She’s such a good and subtle actress, and so good in period pieces–hard to think of a living actress with a more 20s face
It’s funny but I remember thinking that exact same things the first time I saw her! I guess she has the sort of looks that the 1920s admired. She has naturally rosebud lips. Looking forward to Nell – more 17th century is always welcome!
I liked ‘Passing’ but the wig was shit and distracting as hell!
I’m now fully onboard with Monstrous Beauty! She’s a good actress!
Did R.N. ever play Josephine Baker, as she was supposedly going to, and if so, was it released? She’s the only actress I can imagine as Josephine; she’s got the right period look, the charm, the humor.
I’ve seen her work in contemporary pieces, not in Frock Flicks. She is SO beautiful and very talented. I can actually attest to her beauty as I have seen in her person as just a regular person around town. I think she must’ve been filming something near me. Anyway, it’s not all makeup and lights, she’s actually beautiful. Loving and Passing have been on my To Watch List for a while. I had no idea about The Nativity, but now I feel like I have to see it for the pairing of her and the actor who plays Leonard (I don’t know his real name) in Grantchester!! And Shirley certainly looks like the most exciting of these Frock Flick projects. GREAT WCW choice!!!
What a great actress! She was the best thing about Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt. Terrible movie, but I would have loved to see her character have more screen time. :)