Juliet Cowan speaks to ET at the premiere of the much-anticipated Amy Winehouse biopic, 'Back to Black.'
At the premiere of the much-anticipated Back to Black film, Juliet Cowan -- who portrays Janis Collins-Winehouse, Amy Winehouse's mother in the movie -- shares insights with ET into her experience portraying the pivotal figure in the music legend's life.
Speaking to ET’s Rachel Smith at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City, Cowan expressed what her hopes are for the audience and delved into the meticulous process of bringing Janis' character to life.
"I think this film was made with such a huge amount of love for Amy and for kind of everyone around her, and most of the people I know who've seen it have really felt that and love the film," Cowan said when asked about the sentiments she hoped viewers would take away.
Cowan reminisced about the first time she witnessed Marisa Abela auditioning for the role of Winehouse. "So, I saw her in the auditions 'cause I was there when she came in and she came in, and she read, and she sang, and she did a few little improv bits, and we were all like, 'She's incredible. That's Amy,'" Cowan recalled.
Acknowledging the scrutiny the film has faced, Cowan asserted, "People can say what they like, but usually, once they've seen the film they don't feel the same way. They really love it, and I think that that is the strength of the film, you know? Yeah, once you've seen it, you're invested in it."
Assuming the role of Janis Collins-Winehouse came with a profound sense of responsibility for Cowan. "I spent the day with her. I mean, when you're playing a real-life person, it's a big responsibility, and also when you're playing someone who's lost their child, and who's also given birth to such an icon it's important that you honor them," Cowan shared. "So even though it's quite a small part, I thought it was really important to, I really wanted Janice to see the film and go, 'Yeah, I can believe that's me.'"
Post-film, Cowan disclosed that she spoke to Janis, who expressed contentment with the portrayal. "I think she's really happy with the film," Cowan revealed.
In preparing for the role, Cowan sought to capture Janis' essence, emphasizing her empathy and intellect. "She's a very sort of empathic person, kind and gentle. She's also super clever which nobody knows. I mean, nobody knows a lot about Janice," Cowan explained. "She's quite in the background as a character, but you know, she knows, she had Amy and, yea, I think her empathy and her love for Amy is what really shined through for me."
Furthermore, Cowan reflected on the emotional impact of her portrayal on Amy's father, Mitch. "I mean, the first time he saw me as Janice, he cried," Cowan disclosed. "Yeah, because obviously, it's, you know, I was playing Janice in that period. I watched a lot of Janice and her husband, who's now dead, Amy's stepdad."
Speaking to ET's Rachel Smith in September 2023, Mitch shared how he wants his late daughter to be remembered.
"[Amy] is a lot more than the singer, the person who struggled with addiction, much more than that," Mitch told ET. "Loving, kind, a wonderful family member and a wonderful friend. That's what we want people to know about Amy."
Mitch said there's no point in rewriting history. He's cognizant of the fact that, yes, his daughter battled with drug and alcohol addiction. But he also wants people to know that she fought her demons hard.
"Not a lot of people know that she was clear of drugs for three years [before] her passing, so that's important," Mitch said.
Amy died on July 23, 2011. She was 27.
"Amy was the greatest daughter, family member and friend you could ever have. I will talk a lot about her fantastic recovery," he said in a 2011 statement. "Recently, Amy found love with Reg [Traviss]. He helped her with her problems and Amy was looking forward to their future together. She was the happiest she has been for years."
"She was not depressed," his statement continued. "She saw [her mother] Janis and Reg on Friday and was in good spirits. That night, she was in her room, playing drums and singing ... But knowing she wasn't depressed, knowing she passed away, knowing she passed away happy, it makes us all feel better."
Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, hits theaters on Friday, May 17.
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