Lashana Lynch on Bob Marley: One Love, Rita Marley’s story, and working with Kingsley Ben-Adir | Interview

Lashana Lynch stars as Rita Marley in Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love, and it was a meaningful role that meant “everything” to her.

“I’m a British born Jamaican woman, and my parents come from a really rich history,” Lynch said.

“To be able to represent them in film for the second time, but in the most incredible way, with two legends who mean so much to me personally as an artist, was amazing. And being able to even get to know Mrs. Marley in the way that I have was, was an honour.”

Lynch really connected with the music in the film, particularly in the scenes for the world tour with the iconic album, Exodus, and she had a lot of praise for star Kingsley Ben-Adir as the “General” himself, Bob Marley.

“Kingsley is hands down one of the best, most professional, beautiful, committed actors that I’ve ever worked with in my time,” she said. “He was so Bob that people who knew Bob when he was younger, they would be greeting him as the ‘General,’ because that’s what they would say to Bob when he was younger.”

“He was so removed from who he was that he was honouring Bob in his spirit in a very, very different way. I’ve been a fan of Kingsley for many years, and I know his work and he’s incredible… this is the performance of a lifetime.”

“To be able to witness it firsthand, to be able to be with him on it, for him to inspire me to be more Rita Marley than I had even researched and emotionally prepared for every single day was unexpected. But also, I’m really grateful for it because I think we were able to help each other and support each other in different ways.”

“You’re in a relationship together, on screen. I’ve cried describing him before and how brilliant and supportive and incredible he is, and he deserves every single ounce of greatness that comes from this possible. Every single ounce.”

Watch the full interview with Lashana Lynch above, and watch our interview with director Reinaldo Marcus Green on YouTube.

Bob Marley: One Love debuts on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD, May 28.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures.