Freida Pinto is bringing Huma Abedin’s bestselling memoir to TV. Deadline reports the “Slumdog Millionaire” actress is developing an adaptation of “Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds” for Entertainment One, with plans to star as Abedin and executive produce via her Freebird Films shingle, which is dedicated to “celebrating diversity and uplifting the work and lives of intrepid women.”
Abedin and Pinto’s producing partner at Freebird, Emily Verellen, will also serve as exec producers.
Published last fall, “Both/And” recounts Abedin’s story, including her tenure as an aide and advisor to Hillary Clinton and being thrust into the public eye when news of her ex-husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner’s, sexts and sexual misconduct first broke in 2011. The latter ultimately became a point of contention in the 2016 election.
Born in Michigan, raised in Saudi Arabia, and of Indian-Pakistani descent, Abedin began working with Clinton as an Office of the First Lady intern in 1996. Since then she has served as Senior Advisor when Clinton was a senator, traveling Chief of Staff for Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of State, and Vice Chair of Hillary for America in 2016. She is currently working as Clinton’s Chief of Staff.
“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,” Pinto explained. “Huma’s story is both extraordinary and immediately relatable, timely, and relevant to so many of us. 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.”
Abedin added, “It was clear to me from our very first conversation that Freida and Emily not only believe in but get the story, that they have a vision and a passion about bringing a life filled with unexpected adventures to the world in a way that is true to who I hope to remain always – defiantly optimistic.” She has described sharing her story in “Both/And” as “an empowering and liberating experience.”
You can see Pinto in theaters now in the color-consciously-cast “Mr. Malcolm’s List.” She also exec produced Emma Holly Jones’ Regency-era rom-com. “The Path,” “Knight of Cups,” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” are among her other credits. Pinto received a BAFTA nomination for her breakout role in “Slumdog Millionaire.”
