Rita Ora sharing a childhood photograph of herself dressed as the story’s heroine, Belle
(Picture: ES Composite)Rita Ora says her life is “feeling like a Disney movie” after landing a dream role starring in a new Beauty and the Beast TV prequel series.
The star celebrated by sharing a childhood photograph of herself dressed as the story’s heroine, Belle.
Ora will star alongside Luke Evans and Josh Gad in the Disney+ series.
She said: “‘I can’t keep the secret any longer! I’m beyond excited to be joining the cast of the Beauty and the Beast prequel series! As a child, I remember watching Beauty and the Beast with my family over and over and immediately falling in love with the music and characters. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined joining this fairytale world.”
Ora grew up in Notting Hill after her family fled Kosovo — and she attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School in Earl’s Court. She went on to study at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
She added: “Lately I just feel like all my dreams are coming true! Life is feeling like a Disney movie!”
Ora, who previously appeared in Fifty Shades of Grey and the 2021 film Twist, plays a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom.
The show, which will start filming in spring, is set in the world of Beauty and the Beast and will explore the backstory of some of its most popular characters.
Disney released an animated version in 1991 before casting Emma Watson and Dan Stevens as the leads in the 2017 live action remake. It cost about $255 million to create, making it one of the most expensive films ever, but was a worldwide hit — making more than $1.2 billion (£890 million).
Ora said last year how she always wanted a career in showbusiness. “I said endlessly to my parents growing up, ‘I want to be a singer’, ‘I want to do music’, ‘I want to be an entertainer’. I don’t think they ever thought it’d be a career for me,” she said.
