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King Richard Cast Side by Side With Real People

Take a Look at the King Richard Cast Side by Side With Their Real-Life Counterparts

Nov 12 2021

The sports movie King Richard tells a story that seems almost too fantastical to be true: how Venus and Serena Williams, coached by their father, Richard, rose up from obscurity to become two of the best athletes of all time. The biopic has faced criticism over its casting, with viewers citing colourism in the casting of Will Smith (who has visibly lighter skin than the real-life Williams), pointing out there were plenty of talented, dark-skinned actors who would have been a better fit to depict Williams accurately.

Despite the controversy, King Richard will still be introducing promising new talent to a wider audience, particularly the young women who will step into the shoes of Venus and Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. Ahead of the film's 19 Nov. release in theatres and on HBO Max, take a look at the actors alongside the real people they're portraying from around the same time.

Image Source: Everett Collection

Will Smith as Richard Williams

Image Source: Everett Collection

Richard Williams in Real Life

Richard Williams launched his daughters' history-making tennis careers into motion by putting them in tennis lessons around age 4. By 1995, he'd pulled them out of their tennis academy and started coaching them personally. Then, as both Venus and Serena became legendary players over the course of their careers, he pulled back from hands-on coaching. In recent years, he's been out of the public eye, although Serena recently shared a sweet video of Richard, now 79 years old, spending time with her daughter, Olympia.

Image Source: Getty / Ken Levine

Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams

Image Source: Everett Collection

Venus Williams in Real Life

Venus, the elder of the two Williams sisters, has gone from young phenom to all-time tennis legend. Throughout her career, she has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles (all with sister Serena), and five Olympic medals (four gold and one silver). She also currently holds the record for most Grand Slams played for any player, man or woman.

Image Source: Getty / Al Bello

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Demi Singleton as Serena Williams

Image Source: Everett Collection

Serena Williams in Real Life

Like sister Venus, Serena has been on the tennis scene for decades, racking up the championships and accolades to become an all-time great. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and counting, she has the most titles of the Open era (and is only one shy of the all-time record). She also has four Olympic gold medals and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, along with a slew of other records, including being the only player ever to achieve a "Golden Slam" — winning all four majors and a gold medal in a single year — in both singles and doubles.

Image Source: Getty / Carol Newsome

Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene Price

Image Source: Everett Collection

Oracene Price in Real Life

Oracene Price (centre, with Serena and Venus) is the mother and coach of both Williams sisters. A less well-known figure to the public than their father, Richard, she has been a critical presence and motivator in their lives and careers nonetheless. "If my daughters said they couldn't do anything, I'd say, 'Yes, you can. You can do anything you want. Nothing is unattainable,'" she told Sports Illustrated in 1999.

Image Source: Getty / Georges De Keerle

Jon Bernthal as Rick Macci

Image Source: Everett Collection

Rick Macci in Real Life

Rick Macci, seen here on the left coaching Venus alongside Richard (right), is a tennis coach who coached some of the all-time greats. Besides the Williams sisters, he's coached Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, and several others. In 2017, he was inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association's Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest professional ever to receive that honour.

Image Source: Getty / Ken Levine

Christopher Wallinger as John McEnroe

Image Source: Everett Collection

John McEnroe in Real Life

During his tennis career, John McEnroe was one of the top-ranked players in the world — and one of the more controversial. He remains the only men's player to win more than 70 titles in both the singles and men doubles categories, including seven singles Grand Slam titles and 10 in Grand Slam doubles. He became as well-known for his on-court temper (which often landed him in trouble) as for his playing.

Fun fact: fans of Never Have I Ever may recognise McEnroe as the narrator who provides protagonist Devi's "inner monologue." Yes, that's really McEnroe voicing the narration — and he even makes a cameo on screen!

Image Source: Getty / Dimitri Iundt

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