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Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock "feels seen" in all-Black Christmas movie

Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images
Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images

Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock stars alongside an all-Black cast in her debut movie Boxing Day, and she's opened up about how it made her feel "seen".

The upcoming film is a "reimagining" of I May Destroy You star Aml Ameen's experiences of bringing American partners home to his British Caribbean family. Ameen wrote and produced it and stars in the lead role, and it also marks his feature directorial debut.

It follows British author Melvin (Ameen), who returns to his hometown of London with his new fiancée Lisa (Aja Naomi King) for Christmas, only to come face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend and global superstar Georgia (Pinnock).

"It was literally like walking into a whole new world," Pinnock told ITV's Good Morning Britain. "I just remember when the opportunity came and the audition, I just couldn't refuse it, like I had to do it."

Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

"A few auditions later and I'm starring in my first movie, it's just incredible," the X Factor star added. "And an all-Black cast as well, the first of its kind. I'm just so proud to be a part of it."

Ameen joined his co-star on Tuesday's (November 30) segment to promote the film, and Pinnock had a special message to share with him.

"We were saying yesterday," she explained, "I feel like this film allows a lot of people to be seen, a lot of the Black community to feel seen – for me to be seen and you did that for me so thank you."

Ameen responded: "I completely agree, there's a feeling to be seen in a way that you've not been seen, like in normal everyday things and normal life. Ultimately, it's about celebrating being British but through a different lens."

In a previous interview with Digital Spy, Ameen explained his thought process behind his screenplay: "I wanted something where a Black British audience can see themselves or their family on screen, as well as seeing African American culture in Lisa and Caribbean culture in Melvin's family."

Boxing Day is released in UK cinemas on December 3.

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