Normani Says She Finds Acting “Liberating And Very Freeing”
Normani is out here doing everything and looking flawless while at it. On April 5, the Wild Side singer wasn’t just grooving to the beats at Dreamville Fest in Raleigh, North Carolina — she was behind the bar, serving up cocktails as Hennessy’s celebrity bartender. And if that wasn’t enough sparkle for one weekend, she also celebrated her big screen debut in the brand-new film Freaky Tales, which had just hit theaters the day before.
“It’s liberating and very freeing, being able to be creative in a totally different way,” Normani said at the festival, glowing with excitement about her acting journey. In Freaky Tales, set in 1987 Oakland, she plays Entice, a girl group member chasing her dreams and dealing with the drama that comes with it. The film also stars Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, and Dominique Thorne.
Normani, now 28, opened up about how this role gave her a new kind of confidence. “I felt like I learned a lot about myself, and I was actually able to celebrate myself and watch myself and not be super critical,” she said, promising a cozy movie night with her mom, dad, and grandma to mark the moment.
This film comes nearly a year after the release of her long-awaited debut album Dopamine, which dropped in June 2024. The project, packed with bangers, had fans hungry for more, and Normani hasn’t let up since.
“I got you,” she teased when asked about more performances and visuals. “We have a lot of special things set up.” Oh, and yes, she’s always working on new music.
So why bartending at Dreamville Fest? Turns out Normani is just as intentional about her brand partnerships as she is about her art. “I love to partner with brands that are very inclusive and just kind of represent everybody,” she said, praising Hennessy for its involvement in both music and sports, including their support of the WNBA. “It’s just a really equal, fun, responsible brand, so I was really excited to partner,” she stated.
Festival-goers lucky enough to swing by the Hennessy Highline got more than a buzz — they got drinks from Normani herself, plus a fire DJ set from Mannie Fresh. And that was just one slice of the weekend.
Dreamville Fest 2025, held at Dorothea Dix Park, was packed with heavy hitters: J. Cole (the founder himself), Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, PartyNextDoor, Ari Lennox, 21 Savage, Keyshia Cole, Coco Jones, GloRilla, and more blessed the stage. And though it was billed as the festival’s fifth and final edition, Cole gave fans a little hope during his headlining set — hinting the event will live on, just under a new name.
