For her first non-fiction onscreen role, Aubrey Plaza is looking forward to delivering a portrayal befitting Heidi Fleiss.
After Deadline reported that she will produce and star as Fleiss in an upcoming biopic about the ‘Hollywood Madam’, the Golden Globe nominee expressed her excitement to play the “ultimate badass icon” to whom she “spiritually” relates.
“I’ve been on this track for a while. I got it in my head that I wanted to play her a couple of years ago and I’ve never played a real-life person before,” she told IndieWire. “It’s a different kind of scale, challenge, that I’m really excited about, and I just think she’s an incredible person, incredible character.”
Plaza continued, “The story is insane. She’s done something that probably nobody else has ever done, and she’s still going. I think she’s the ultimate badass icon and she deserves the royal treatment. We shall give it to her.”
Although she has “not spoken” with Fleiss yet, Plaza noted, “I hope to make a little trip to her place in the desert at some point. Spiritually I feel her. I’ve heard she’s very excited about it. We’re in early stages.”
Last week, Deadline reported that Plaza is set to produce and star in The Heidi Fleiss Story, marking the directorial debut of Leah Rachel, who co-wrote the script with Rachel Sennott and Travis Jackson. Jessamine Burgum and Kara Durrett will produce for Pinky Promise, alongside Plaza for Evil Hag, with production to take place in Los Angeles this year after receiving a California film and TV tax incentive.
Fleiss was arrested in 1993 for running a high-profile prostitution ring, ultimately being convicted of tax evasion and serving 20 months of a seven-year prison sentence. Despite the punishment, Fleiss has never revealed the names on her client list.
The Heidi Fleiss Story follows Fleiss in the tense days leading up to her trial, as she navigates Los Angeles, using her web of connections to try to manipulate and blackmail her way out of the charges, with the assistance of an ambitious young writer named Jaclyn.
The post Aubrey Plaza Hopes To Visit Heidi Fleiss Ahead Of Biopic: “She Deserves The Royal Treatment” appeared first on Deadline.