Winnie Ama, a singer accustomed to performing in various venues, has made her acting and singing debut in the new "Superman" movie, performing her original song "What Are We" in an alien language. The track, initially released as a solo project in 2020, was adapted for the film and sung in the fictional Bilquis language.
To achieve authentic pronunciation, an alien language specialist was brought in to work with Ama. "We went through each word and each syllable to make sure that the pronunciation was perfect for Bilquis," she stated. The specialist, who also developed languages for "Star Trek," provided insights into the linguistic structure, which Ama found "so cool."
The film features Ama's character performing in an alien bar on the planet Bilquis when Supergirl visits. Ama described the experience of portraying an alien as "so much fun," fulfilling a long-held desire. Her role required early mornings, with 4 a.m. wake-up calls to travel to the film set in Leavesden. The elaborate costume, hair, and makeup application process took approximately four hours each day and was entirely applied by hand. Removal at the end of the day also involved a meticulous scrubbing process.
"Being a Bilquis alien was so much fun, I've always wanted to be an alien," Ama shared. The singer noted that her character's performance in an alien bar on Bilquis was a unique setting for her song. The film marks a significant step for Ama, transitioning from performing in smaller venues to a major Hollywood production.