Tessa Thompson to Play Real-Life Jewelry Thief in Doris Payne Heist Movie
"Westworld" star Tessa Thompson has several big projects on the way, including the upcoming "Avengers: Infinity War," and the list is only growing.
The actress is set to play international jewelry thief Doris Payne in a still-untitled heist movie, Variety reports. As the lead character, Thompson will recreate Payne's decades of crime, which stretch from the 1950s all the way to the recent past. Payne, who is now 87, was arrested as recently as July after allegedly shoplifting, according to NBC News.
Payne is reportedly very charismatic and would manage to steal from jewelry stores while posing as a customer. Over the years, she was arrested multiple times and used some 20 different aliases, the Daily Beast reports. We can see why her unique story has been deemed movie-worthy.
Thompson will not only star in the film but also produce. She'll work alongside Jeff Clanagan and Candice Wilson of Codeblack Films. The biopic does not yet have a release date.