Joey King’s ‘A Family Affair’ Character is Heavily Inspired By an Iconic Actor’s Assistant Who’s Now a Major Hollywood Power Player
When we thought of Joey King earlier, the iconic franchise called The Kissing Booth came to mind. But now, the young actress has diversified her portfolio and come into her own as an actress. From The Act to Bullet Train, King has made significant strides in the industry with her talents and skills.
Now, her latest venture A Family Affair has taken Netflix by storm. Starring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman and King in lead roles, the movie takes viewers on a romantic journey where love knows no age and no boundaries. Interestingly, this is not the first time Efron and Kidman play a couple despite their age difference. The Paperboy is another movie where they have starred together.
Inspiration behind Joey King’s Character in A Family Affair
Recently, in an interview with Collider, writer-director Richard Lagravenese of A Family Affair revealed that Joey King’s character Zara Ford was not exactly conjured out of thin air.
In fact, she has been based on famous actor Danny DeVito’s former assistant Pamela Abdy. The aspiring young woman is now the CEO of Warner Bros, proving that no dream is too big. Lagravenese further shared,
When I first met Pam, she was Danny DeVito’s assistant and she’s from Jersey and Danny’s from Jersey and watching the two of them was such a joy because Pam never let Danny get away with it just cuz he was a movie star and he loved that about her that’s why he loved her and so that dynamic of why Zara speaks back to to to Chris and why he loves her is because of that dynamic you know that was inspired by them. I love that has she seen the film.
So, not just Zara’s character but her equation with Chris is also inspired by DeVito’s connection with Abdy. This adds a more authentic layer to the interpersonal relationship between Chris and Zara while also putting into focus how she was affected by the unexpected relationship.
A Family Affair is a unique coming of age tale that touches upon important themes like love, loss, identity, and self-exploration. Moreover, the exceptionally talented star cast adds magic to the story, delivering a highly entertaining flick on Netflix.
Who is Pamela Abdy?
As previously mentioned, Abdy started her career as DeVito’s assistant. She went on to co-produce movies and is now working as the CEO of Warner Bros. Starting in 2004, Abdy began producing movies that led her to recognize her interest in the industry. A Family Affair is not based entirely on her life but Zara’s character takes inspiration from Abdy’s personality and her work relationship with DeVito.
Lately, Warner Bros is also doing some great work, for which half of the credit goes to Adby as she has a co-chair working with her. Lagravenese also revealed that she has indeed watched the movie and liked the way it all connects together.
