Photo: Benjamin Rauhala TikTok
Ariana DeBosedidn’t just “do the thing” at the 2023BAFTA Awards— she rehearsed the thing, too!
On Wednesday, Broadway music directorBenjamin Rauhalashared a video on TikTok of DeBose, 32, as sherehearsed her now-viral opening numberfrom Sunday’s awards show while having makeup applied and her dress fitted ahead of the performance.
“Backstage with Ariana, getting ready to… do the thing,” Rauhala wrote in a caption on the post as the video plays. “We had SO much fun celebrating the brilliant female nominees at the BAFTAs!”
In the video, DeBose can be seen and heard rapping: “Angela Bassettdid the thing,Viola Davismy ‘Woman King,‘Cate Blanchettyou’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” backstage leading up to the performance.
“It was an honor to give love to all of these iconic women, and to get the party started! We are giggling at everyone who has our campy little number stuck in their heads,” Rauhala wrote within the video.
“Thank you for the love, and the hilarious memes,” the music director added. “We had the BEST time putting this together for our friends at the BAFTAS. What a moment!”
“She did the thing. 😎,” Rauhala wrote as the video ends.
DeBose’s opening number during Sunday’s awards ceremony in London, which came after hostRichard E. Grant’s opening monologue, featured a group of dancers performing alongside theWest Side Storystar as she sang “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” and “We Are Family,” and rapped about the night’s female nominees.
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Benjamin Rauhala TikTok
“Ithink it’s incredibly unfair, to be frank,” said producer Nick Bullen whilespeaking toVarietyabout the musical performance. “The songs she was singing are very familiar songs, the room was clapping and people were sort of dancing to the music. That rap section in the middle, mentioning the women in the room, was because it’s been a great year for women in film, and we wanted to celebrate that.”
Ariana DeBose.Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty
On Tuesday, DeBose shareda series of snapshotsfrom Sunday’s ceremony in London to her Instagram feed, showing herposing on the red carpet, performing the viral opening number and more.
Several images also featured DeBose smiling alongside several nominees includingJamie Lee Curtis,Michelle YeohandEddie Redmayne.
“@bafta💛 Some moments I loved with ppl I love,” the actress captioned her post.
source: people.com
