Rita Ora on Playing the Queen of Hearts in ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’

Rita Ora is a triple threat in Descendants: The Rise of Red, the new musical from Disney that spins new, family-friendly lore based on classical movies and fairytale characters.

Ora takes on the role of the Queen of Hearts – whom you may know best for saying “Off with their heads” in Lewis Caroll’s Alice In Wonderland. In Descendants: The Rise of Red, however, Ora also turns singer and rapper with her entry song “Love Ain’t It,” which also features actor-singers Kylie Cantrall (her on-screen daughter, Red) and Malia Baker (playing Chloe Charming), plus R&B star Brandy (who plays Cinderella).

The British pop star specifically talks about her song as a “reality shock moment” in the movie’s narrative. Speaking over a video call with Rolling Stone India, Ora says, “It’s the first time you get to see this kind of worry in everyone […] Everyone kind of becomes really scared and the song starts playing, and it’s kind of a very powerful moment for the Queen of Hearts.”

British pop star Ora is no stranger to the film world – you’ve likely seen her in Fifty Shades of Grey – but she’s doing a Disney movie for the first time. Ora went to school for musical theater and has enjoyed the stage before (“It’s sort of in my DNA,” she says), but this is her first time being part of a musical film. “I think as a musician, it’s like a natural growth to go into movies and do musicals. I’d like to challenge myself. I would like to do something next that feels a little bit more unexpected,” she adds.

Ora is playing, in her own words, “an iconic character” that’s been depicted in several different ways in pop culture over the years, including movie adaptations. She adds, “It was really fun to do my own interpretation of her, especially, her feeling and going through a lot in her childhood, which you get to see in the film.”

No doubt this was a villain role, but Ora says she’s loved everything about Descendants so far – the Disney franchise started off in 2015 – and feels that this “feels kind of like a new era” in the narrative. “It was really nice to just be a part of that,” she adds.

More than a villain role, Ora plays mother to Kylie Cantrall’s Red in the movie. She says, “It was the first time I played a role where I was a mum. I liked the idea of looking after her, and we really got so close, and she’s so funny, and she’s a superstar.” She also got to share singing space with Brandy, whom Ora calls “just the best.” She adds, “Me being from music, that was a huge moment for me because I’ve loved her [Brandy] since I can remember.”

Including “Love Ain’t It,” the soundtrack to Descendants: The Rise of Red traverses rap, pop, electronic and good old-fashioned, harmony-rich musical songs. “It’s just so uplifting, and there’s so many emotional moments as well. At the same time, it’s such a beautiful movie to watch with your family, and there’s amazing clothes and fashion, and it’s just a really fast, quick-witted family movie,” Ora says.

Her favorite part about being in Descendants: The Rise of Red was “seeing it all come to life,” in terms of the music, choreography, camera work, outfits and acting. “It takes a lot of people to put on a movie like this. The choreographer, the music department… everyone was so, so amazing.”

Ora was in India last year with her husband, filmmaker Taika Waititi, but only as tourists. “Hopefully I’ll come and see you guys and we can do a concert one day,” she added by way of a message to her fans in India.

‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.