Freida Pinto has signed on to play author Huma Abedin in a series adaptation of her memoir Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds. Pinto will also develop the show with Entertainment One through her banner Freebird Films, which has an overall deal with the company.
Abedin is the famously private Hillary Clinton Chief of Staff and longtime advisor whose personal life blew up after the antics of her then-husband Anthony Weiner became public. The book, which was published in November, chronicles her roots from both Michigan where she was born and Saudi Arabia where she was raised, and into her career where she’s been tied to Clinton’s hip.
She began as an intern for the First Lady before following her to the Senate and becoming her Senior Advisor. An important figure in the Clinton campaign, she’d eventually become the Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of State. But during that time, Abedin’s personal life received public scrutiny after Weiner’s sexting scandal came to light.
Abedin said in a statement: “Telling my story in Both/And has been an empowering and liberating experience.” She added that the book explores “the power of family, of friendship, of commitment” along with “the feelings of love, loss, betrayal, trauma, re-birth,” which lines up nicely with her newfound relationship with Bradley Cooper.
Pinto might be best known for her BAFTA-nominated performance in Slumdog Millionaire. She’s also appeared in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and Knight Of Cups, as well as last year’s Needle In A Timestack.
She said in her own statement:
“We thought we knew Huma’s story – the woman behind the scenes, and then reluctantly in front of the camera when her own life hit the news. Then, we read her memoir and were stunned by her candor, generosity, warmth, intelligence, and the way that her childhood, faith and family have so authentically woven through her whole life.
Freebird Films is so honored to be able to work with our partners at eOne and Huma to bring her story to television. Stories like this – of powerful, everyday superheroes among us are what drives our work at Freebird Films and playing Huma in this series will be such an honor for me.”
There should be plenty of interest in this series from both a political and tabloid perspective. There’s no word yet on when it’s expected to arrive. Pinto can currently be seen in cinemas starring in period drama Mr. Malcolm’s List, while she’s currently filming drama My Mother’s Wedding for director Kristin Scott Thomas.
#Peace.Love.Both/And
