Christina Ricci read extensively to play novelist Zelda Fitzgerald

Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) American actress Christina Ricci, who features in the bio-series "Z: The Beginning of Everything" -- based on the life of novelist Zelda Fitzgerald and F. Scott Fitzgerald, says she went through extensive reading to understand her character as Zelda.

"Z: The Beginning of Everything" is being brought to Indian audiences via Amazon Prime Video. It has been described as a telling of the "passionate, turbulent love affair and marriage" of the two novelists, and shows the alcoholism, adultery and struggle with dashed dreams and mental illness that leads to Zelda's tragic, untimely end.

Ricci, known for her work in "Sleepy Hollow" and "Grey's Anatomy", spoke to IANS in an interview from New York about the role.

She said: "Well, I read everything I could really about her. These books based my introduction to her once we had the setup at Amazon. I started reading both of her biographies by Sally Cline and Nancy Milford. I also read a biography of him (Scott Fitzgerald)... I read all his novels, and I read her novel as well. I just did tons and tons of reading."

David Hoflin plays Scott Fitzgerald in the series, which has been told from Zelda's point of view.

Sharing an insight, Ricci said: "It's an interesting point of view. The story has never been told from Zelda's point of view before. In addition, even the fact that Zelda's life has never been told on camera before (is interesting). I hope people see it and learn a little bit more about her."

Starting her career as a child actor, Ricci acted in various television series and in films and bagged various awards, including Young Artist Awards, Satellite Awards, and Florida Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Supporting Actress.

With "Z: The Beginning of Everything" releasing on a digital medium, one asked Ricci to comment on the consumption of digital content, which is increasingly the world over, including in India.

To that, Ricci said: "Yes. I think that new media and the digitalization of television and film in entertainment will really have a global effect."

Of Indian cinema and its artistes, there's not much Ricci could tell. But at the mention of Priyanka Chopra, she said: "I know who she is definitely."

Has she ever watched any of her work as an audience?

"I believe I have. I cannot recall much, but I believe I have seen her work," she said.

Did she like her work?

"Yes, I do," Ricci said of Priyanka, who features in the American TV series "Quantico" as the protagonist.