With Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem being considered for film roles like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, a name was on many people’s minds: Debra Messing.
The Will & Grace actress spent some time tweeting non-stop against President Trump to retweet dozens of people who think she would be perfect for playing the comedian in a planned Amazon Studios movie, “Being the Ricardos”. The film, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, follows a week in the production of “I Love Lucy”, including a major fight that threatens to derail Ball-Arnaz’s wedding, Deadline reported on Monday.
Ball and Arnaz fled in 1940 and were married until 1960, when Ball successfully filed for divorce. It was not the first time: she had filed the lawsuit in 1944, but the couple reconciled and welcomed two children. “I Love Lucy”, with Ball as Lucy and Arnaz as Ricky, ran from 1951 to 1957, and Ball died in 1989.
Messing ,, did not argue much for the role, but let her fans speak for her Monday, retweeting countless people who commented on how perfect she would be like Lucy.
TV actress and personality Valerie Bertinelli was among them, tweeting “Debra Messing was stolen” in response to the story about the alleged cast.
Bertinelli was not alone in this feeling.
“Oh, dear, you are so kind,” Messing said to a friend, Tara Dublin, who tweeted, “My friend @DebraMessing would be a zillion times better than Lucille Ball, just saying.” Dublin replied: “Nicole Kidman is an excellent dramatic actress, but she is not funny. Debra has perfect comic timing and there is a real similarity. “
Tweeting side-by-side photos of Ball and Messing as Ball, user @wearingacape wrote: “Cmon Aaron Sorkin – Nicole Kidman IS NOT RIGHT FOR THIS PART. Debra Messing was born specifically to play that role. She can play comedy AND drama … Nic can’t. Also, LOOK AT DEBRA !! “
Among the other comments that Messing retweeted:
“Debra is Lucy reincarnated anyway!”
“Choosing this role must be based on the acting and comedic talent, as well as the ‘free spirit’ that was devastating Lucille Ball’s personality. I’m not sure if there are many more suitable for this role than @DebraMessing. The similarity is certainly an advantage. “
“The W&G episode ‘I love Lucy’ is more than enough proof! That role should be yours! “
The “Will & Grace” reboot aired the episode “We Love Lucy” last April. In it, Messing’s Grace argues that living with Will (Eric McCormack) is like Lucy living with Ricky, and the homage starts from there.
Mess bride on monday with user @Importantverbs, who tweeted, “Choosing to believe that @DebraMessing was not available or something.” The actress replied, “Oh, no, I’m available.”
One of the many responding to that particular exchange, @ CBreeze27, wrote, “Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball ??! I love her, but nooooo oh no. Bad combination. I don’t see that. I imagined @DebraMessing playing Lucy from the first days of Will & Grace. I always told everyone that she was born to play her. Physical comedy is one thing. Make it happen! “
People also commented on Bardem, 51, competing to play Ricky and publicizing Oscar Isaac’s name as a younger option. Isaac, 41, will play Duke Leto Atreides in the next film “Duna”.
Note: Messing didn’t retweet any of the posts that talked about Ball’s expressive face, Messing’s expressive face and, well, not so expressive Kidman’s face. But that didn’t stop others from commenting, and about Kidman as Ball in general.