Key Points

Shailene Woodley is getting real about the challenges of playing Janis Joplin. She says singing for the role is a scary and vulnerable experience. The film has been in the works for about seven years and will feature real outfits from Joplin's time. Woodley is excited to be working with Linda Perry to bring the rock legend's story to life.

Key Points: Shailene Woodley Reveals Janis Joplin Biopic Singing Challenges

  • Woodley finds singing for the role deeply personal and emotionally demanding
  • The project has been in development for nearly seven years
  • She is collaborating closely with musician and producer Linda Perry
  • The film will use authentic clothing and items from Joplin's era
3 min read

Shailene Woodley opens up about challenges of portraying Janis Joplin in upcoming biopic

Shailene Woodley opens up about the emotional difficulty of singing as Janis Joplin in the long-awaited biopic, collaborating with Linda Perry on the project.

"Singing is very scary. It's very vulnerable. - Shailene Woodley"

Washington DC, October 6

Actress Shailene Woodley has revealed that stepping into the shoes of legendary rock icon Janis Joplin for her upcoming biopic 'Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can' has been both inspiring and intimidating. The 33-year-old star, who will also produce the film, admitted that singing for the role has been one of her most challenging artistic experiences yet, reported People.

"Singing is very scary. It's very vulnerable," said the Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe-nominated actress, describing how deeply personal and emotionally demanding the process has been.

The long-awaited project, which has been in development for several years, received a boost last year when it was granted California's film tax credit, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter in September 2024. The film will chronicle the life and career of Janis Joplin, the iconic rock and blues singer who died at the age of 27 in 1970.

Woodley expressed her excitement about the project, saying in an earlier statement, "I have a feeling Janis would be smiling ear to ear, zipping down the PCH in her psychedelic Porsche knowing her story is bringing opportunities and funding to the city and people that held so much significance to her," according to People.

Speaking on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Woodley shared that the film has been in the making for nearly seven years. "She's such a groovy chick, man. She really brought the light to this planet in a really singular way," she told Fallon, adding that the production has access to authentic clothing from Joplin's era, "We have the outfits. Everything," according to People.

Woodley is currently collaborating with musician and producer Linda Perry, best known as the lead singer of 4 Non Blondes, on the Joplin-based feature. Linda "is an incredible songwriter, singer and music producer, ... and she and I have been working very closely for a few years now," the actress said, praising Perry's creative input on the film.

While no release date has been announced, Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can promises to offer an intimate look at the life, struggles, and enduring influence of one of America's most celebrated rock legends.

Actors who have previously been attached to Joplin biopics that never came to fruition before Woodley's project include Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Brittany Murphy and Renee Zellweger, according to People.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting choice of actress. Shailene Woodley is talented, but I wonder if she can capture Janis's raw energy and vocal power. The singing part will be the real test - hope she does justice to those iconic songs.
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Ananya R
It's amazing how much preparation goes into these biopics. Seven years in development! Shows how seriously they're taking this project. The authentic outfits and Linda Perry's involvement sound promising. 🤩
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David E
As an expat living in Mumbai, I appreciate seeing international artists taking on challenging roles. Janis Joplin's music transcends borders - her story deserves to be told with this level of dedication.
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Siddharth J
Respect to Shailene for acknowledging how vulnerable singing can be. Many actors would just lip-sync, but she's putting in the real work. Hope this inspires more authentic performances in Bollywood biopics too!
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Kavya N
So many actresses were considered for this role over the years! Must be nerve-wracking for Shailene. But her honesty about the challenges makes me root for her. Looking forward to seeing the final result!

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