First pictures of Charli XCX on set of new film The Moment as insider reveals movie’s plot line
CHARLI XCX is really blurring the lines between reality and fiction in new film The Moment.
The star, who won five gongs at the Brit Awards earlier this month, plays a promising singer on the cusp of hitting the big time.
Insiders tell me the script is autobiographical, inspired by Charli’s mammoth success with her sixth album Brat. To make it even more obvious, she’s named the lead character after herself.
My mole said: “Charli is basically playing herself in The Moment and it’s inspired by her story.
“It tells of a pop star who is preparing for her first headline arena tour, and will show fans exactly what goes into something like that — and how it affects the person at the centre of it all.
“Brat ended up becoming a cultural movement and the film will take in the impact this had on Charli and on the industry.
‘On her terms’
“She’s been filming for the past few days in London and has shown herself to be a decent actress.
“But that’s not too challenging when your character is you.”
Onlookers at the Nobu hotel in London spotted Charli filming scenes there, including one where she was hailing a black cab ahead of a sell-out gig at the O2 Arena.
Another scene saw her smoking a cigarette on the balcony of her hotel suite.
Director Aidan Zamiri, who was the brains behind Charli’s video for 360, is overseeing The Moment, which also features Alexander Skarsgard and Jamie Demetriou.
On working with Charli, Aidan said: “She’s really smart.
“Not only incredibly creative, but also business-savvy. She has an honest understanding of herself.
“She’s very aware of the cyclical nature of fame and the pressures that come with it, that there’s a fine line between adoration and criticism.
“And she’s actively involved in every decision.
“She knew exactly what she wanted and was able to make it happen. It feels like she’s using the system to get the support and resources she needs, but everything is still on her terms, which is really cool.”
Last month, Bizarre’s Howell revealed how Charli was leaving music behind to become an actress.
Charli said: “It’s probably no music for a while, quite a while.
“I also want to act now. I’m already there and thinking about that stuff a little bit more.
“The success of Brat and the success of the marketing of Brat is also, in ways, a curse.
“I’ll pivot but whatever I do next will be compared. I’m aware that whatever comes next will be the albatross, so to speak.”
BIG HOPES FOR MUSICAL GIANTS
MEMBERS of Status Quo, Tears For Fears and Procol Harum have joined forces for a new supergroup.
Quo bassist John “Rhino” Edwards, Tears For Fears guitarist Neil Taylor and Procol Harum’s keyboard player Josh Phillips will play a series of shows across the UK this summer as The Blue Water Giants.
Josh, who appears on new charity album Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s, proceeds for which go to Cure Parkinson’s, said: “I’ve put a superband together.
“I keep getting asked if I would put Procol Harum together, because I wrote the last album Moment with [late founder] Gary Brooker.
“I took a long, deep think about it and thought it’s not going to be Procol, but let’s keep all this music going, because we’ve all got such history.
“In the same way that people go to The Last Night Of The Proms and listen to Mozart – he’s been dead for more than 200 years but people still love to hear his music.
“So let’s do something a little different. The band is killer. We do Quo, about four songs, we do four Procol songs.”
Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s has a special version of Procol’s A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
It features the band playing at the Remembering Gary Brooker memorial concert that took place at G Live in Guilford in December 2023, and vocals from Gary recorded in Boston 15 years earlier.
ROCK 'N' SOLE STAR
LIAM Gallagher is continuing one of the least rock ’n’ roll collaborations going, by launching a new shoe with Clarks.
I associate it with getting new footwear for school as a kid, but they’re hoping to bring in a cooler audience with the launch of his Desert Rain boots.
The chunky cord shoes go on sale today for a whopping £140, and feature an image of the Oasis vocalist on the back.
Rock ’N’ Roll Star singer Liam said in an ad: “Clarks is a sophisticated shoe. It’s like an old Bentley or an old Rolls-Royce. It’s a classic.
“I think certain people in the know will love ’em and then certain people, it’ll just go right over their head.”
Usher’s Present for tour warm-up
USHER has touched down in the UK ahead of his ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena.
The U Remind Me singer gave a wave as he arrived yesterday morning to prepare for the UK leg of his Past, Present And Future world tour.
Insiders tell me Usher will be locked in rehearsals for the mammoth shows, which will see him taking fans on a journey through his incredible career.
He has got nine days to get it locked down – and I can’t wait to watch him perform.
JORDAN'S DREAM TO BE A DAD
JORDAN Stephens wants to settle down and have kids with his girlfriend JADE.
The Rizzle Kicks rapper has been dating the former Little Mix singer for the past five years.
He said: “Do I want to be a dad? One hundred per cent.
“I want to be there for a child. The dream is for Jade and I to raise a child, or children, that feel secure – emotionally secure in themselves.
“That feels like the greatest challenge facing, arguably the world, certainly the West.
“A large majority of children are growing up with a disconnect.
“So imagine if I was able to provide enough love and connection to a young person for them to feel secure and connected and spread that feeling.”
Listing the benefits of marriage, he added on the We Need To Talk podcast: “Celebrating love – great. Commitment – sure. And then of course, tax relief.
“The spiritual element of it. Even the circle of the ring, there’s something deeper.”
Dua looks Madgic in corset
DUA LIPA’s music has been inspired by Madonna – and so have her stage outfits judging by this look.
She wore a dusky pink corset on stage at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena yesterday, which looked similar to the Material Girl’s famous Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra from the early Nineties.
Dua has just resumed her Radical Optimism tour in Australia ahead of a string of stadium shows in London, Liverpool and Dublin in June.
During the show, she was carried across the stage by dancers and fanned with feathers, all while packing in plenty of singing and choreography.
Next Friday, she will release a special triple vinyl edition of her second album Future Nostalgia, to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
The three-LP set will include her remix album, Club Future Nostalgia, on which she collaborated with Madge for a version of Levitating.
That’ll be enough to get me dancing again in time for the sunny weather.