Since its release, the movie ‘King Richard’ has impressed both critics and fans alike, and has even been generating Oscar buzz. The biopic depicts the extraordinary journey of Richard Williams, Serena and Venus Williams’ father, how he fought against all odds to make his daughters two of the best tennis players of all time.
The roles of Serena and Venus in the movie are played by young actors Demi Singleton and Saniyya Sidney, respectively. In a recent interview, they talked about developing the chemistry between them to accurately depict the relationship that the Williams sisters share.
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‘King Richard’ actors developed their bond like Venus and Serena Williams
Demi Singleton is a 14-year-old American actor who has featured in Godfather of Harlem, and Saniyya, 15, is known for her work in American Horror Story.
In an interview, the teenagers talked about cultivating that sisterly bond, to be able to depict it on-screen. Venus and Serena share a special bond on and off the court, and it was crucial to present such chemistry on the screen.
“We’d go to The Grove every weekend,” said Saniyya Sidney on building up the relationship. Singleton also quoted on the same, “It was really important not only to us but our director, Mr. Rei [Reinaldo Marcus Green], that our chemistry was real and that our sisterhood was shown onscreen.” ‘The Grove‘ is a popular outdoor shopping mall in Los Angeles.
Moreover, even though the shooting shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic, the duo remained in constant contact. It appears like Saniyya and Demi have become quite close friends because of ‘King Richard’.
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What did the actors learn from Venus and Serena?
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Subsequently, in the same interview, the actors also opened about the lessons they learned from the pro athletes. Demi Singleton stepped up to speak on the topic.
She said, “They both have this confidence to them, and you could feel that coming off them every time they walked in a room or stepped onto a court. I feel like playing somebody who’s that confident helped me grow my confidence within myself.”
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Both Serena and Venus have raised the acting effort put in by the entire cast of the movie. It seems like the young actors playing the tennis legends gained a lot from their experience as well. Have you watched the biopic yet?
ALSO READ: ‘King Richard’ Director Reveals Venus and Serena Williams’ Relationship in Real Life