Children of Blood and Bone: Arya Starr Makes Acting Debut Alongside Viola Davis and Idris Elba

The Grammy-nominated artist Arya Starr is in for a career switch as she is set to perform alongside Hollywood heavyweights Viola Davis and Idris Elba in the adaptation of the Nigerian novel Children of Blood and Bone.

The movie also features Nigerian-American EGOT actor Cynthia Erivo in the big-screen adaptation of a story steeped in West African mythology. The novel, part of Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, follows Zélie Adebola, a young girl on a quest to restore magic to her people in the face of oppression.

ARYA STARR Talks About Her Acting Dreams on CBS

In an interview on The Morning Show, Arya Starr noted that the role was a dream come true for her. According to her, she has “always been shy when it comes to acting,” and added, “this will be the first time in my life that I’ve been on camera and I’m not singing.”

“I’ve always been shy when it comes to acting, but this is the first time in my life that I’ve been on camera and I’m not singing,” she said. “I learned so much from everybody on set—not even just the greats—even the younger actors on set, the 16-year-olds, the 14-year-olds—it was so inspiring just watching them.”

In addition, the Blood Samaria singer added that she was in awe of her co-stars and called the entire experience “a masterclass in discipline and stamina.”

“Working with actors of that calibre taught me so much. It wasn’t just fun—it was transformational.”

Cynthia Erivo Also Casted In Children of Blood and Bone

Cynthia Erivo, hot off the recently released Wicked—which she co-starred in alongside actor and singer Ariana Grande—has been open about representing her roots as a Nigerian, which she often showcases through fashion. In fact, when her costumes were being designed for Wicked, the actor spoke about how much she loved her costumes for The Wicked. For a performer as passionate and talented as Cynthia Erivo to be cast in Children of Blood and Bone shows that audiences are potentially in for quite a performance.

Casting Director, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Sends a Message to the Cast of Children of Blood and Bone

The casting director of Children of Blood and Bone, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, sent an appreciation message to the cast following the announcement on Deadline. In her post on X, she wrote:

“I’m especially excited to include our home-grown talent in the cast of #ChildrenofBloodandBone. It’s been a long journey with a lot of work, but we are here now, and I am proud of the work the team and I put in. Thanks to the thousands of you who sent in videos.”