Netflix’s The Twits star details 'favourite change' to iconic Roald Dahl story
EXCLUSIVE: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who stars in Netflix movie The Twits, has lifted the lid on her favourite additions to the classic Roald Dahl story.
*Warning - This article contains minor spoilers for The Twits.*
The Twits star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has opened up about how Netflix’s new feature-length adaptation differs from Roald Dahl’s original short story.
The Never Have I Ever star, 23, also described her favourite additions to the animated film in a new exclusive interview.
Ramakrishnan plays brave orphan Beesha, one of the new characters brought into the story, alongside her best friend Bubsy (Ryan Lopez).
The Americans star Margo Martindale portrays Mrs Twit and UK comedian Johnny Vegas voices her husband Mr Twit in the film, which is directed by Phil Johnston.
Asked to describe her favourite change to The Twits’ original story, Ramakrishnan quipped: “I would say me, Beesha! Just the baddie that Beesha is.”
Speaking more seriously, she explained: “But truly, actually, yeah. I’m not even trying to be a narcissist but Beesha’s character being added is really refreshing because it’s a nice foil to the twits that isn’t just, ‘I’m good, you guys are bad’.
Expanding on her point, she continued: “She also becomes a little bad and she is our audience as we’re reading the book.
“We’re not just letting these twits go unchecked, but they’ve kind of been unchecked all this time. And somehow, despite being so hateful, they’ve become so powerful. And they’re so awful and mean but they’re so powerful and I think that is really great.”
The actress then shared: “Also, selfishly, I also love Beesha’s character design; she is so cutie.
“I remember the first time the animation team showed me her character design and I was like, ‘Oh my god. She has a nose like mine. She’s a dark-skinned brown girlie, the texture on her hair is just [chef’s kiss]. Yes, I love it. Beesha, my girl!”
Elsewhere in the interview, Ramakrishnan talked about Beesha’s character development in more depth, adding: “There’s a moment there when she truly is becoming a twit and she, as many of us do, take the easy path and forget kindness and empathy.
“And she becomes no better, but she realises it and she clocks that she is changing and that by her changing into a twit she’s not making anything better, and she doesn’t want to live in a world like that. I hope people take that away.”
Netflix’s official synopsis for The Twits reads: “The Twits tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people on the face of the earth, and their epic battle against a family of magical Muggle-Wumps and two brave children who refuse to let the Twits’ cruelty win.”
The Twits is coming to Netflix on Friday, October 17.