News of May 2004

27/05/04

Robbie Williams may not be able to crack America with his singing career but he's all set to hit the big time with his acting skills.
Famed American movie director Irwin Winkler, who won an Oscar for producing Sylvester Stallone's hit Rocky, has taken Robbie under his wing and is determined to turn the 30-year-old into a movie star.
Irwin has already given Robbie a part in the upcoming Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, which stars Ashley Judd and Kevin Kline, and he admits he's bowled over by Robbie's talents.
"He was so successful in this movie," says Irwin, "that when we do the TV slots to promote the film, we're using scenes of him singing De-Lovely. He's really great." Irwin, who now wants to give Robbie a starring role in a big-screen musical, adds: "I picked him for the film because I had seen a TV special and knew he could do it.
"Then I saw this photo of him with tattoos all over his body and he was kind of grungy looking but when I met him, I was surprised because he's a gentle guy.
"He came along to the studios and put on a tuxedo - which hid all his tattoos - and he looked great.
"I really want to use him again, I'd love to and I'm thinking of doing another musical.
"It would be such a joy."
And for us, too!

27/05/04

The songwriter who helped Robbie Williams forge his solo success has hit out at the state of the UK charts. Guy Chambers told BBC Radio Five Live that downloads would need to be included to make the singles countdown match musical trends. He said it was positive "that a band that isn't signed can get a following through the internet".
"I'm all for bands developing a following without the help of a major label," Chambers said.
"I don't see why all the major labels should have all the action. They've made some terrible mistakes investing in crap. They're paying a high price now."
Soured relationship Chambers, who co-wrote songs such as Angels and Let Me Entertain You, was nominated for an award at this year's Ivor Novello awards for Williams' 2002 hit Feel, which was the biggest airplay track in Europe last year. He said he was sympathetic to teenagers downloading tracks because they did not have much money.
"If I was 18 I don't think I would feel guilty, because your average 18-year-old doesn't have any money, and you do tend to be mad about music," he said. He confirmed that his writing relationship with Williams had soured, and that it was uncertain if they would write together again.
"Certainly not this year," he said.
"I think we both took one another for granted a little bit, it got a bit stale and we needed a break.
"Whether it will be a break or a final thing I don't know. Time will tell," he said.

20/05/04

FROM THE SUN:

Would love to know what is written on the back of Robbie Williams’s T-shirt.
Our biggest male star was snapped stepping out in Beverly Hills, California.
Maybe his T-shirt says: “OK America, show us your . . . hits” — in a bid to get that longed-for chart success over there. Let me know how you reckon the sentence should end.
As well as his US chart ambition, Robbie is keen to make a name for himself on the big screen and recently made his movie debut in De-Lovely, playing a jazz singer.

20/05/04

FROM THE HELLO MAGAZINE:

The inimitable Robbie Williams has been soaking up the sun in Los Angeles, where he is hoping to launch a career as an actor. The 30-year-old, who has struggled to break the US music charts, was enjoying some well-earner R&R before jetting out to Cannes to promote his cameo role in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely.
Stars Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd will also be in town for the screening, which will be the last movie shown at this year's festival. And Robbie, who plays a wedding singer in the flick, is also expected to perform in a concert to mark the end of Cannes 2004.
His visit to the French Riviera will give him the chance to meet many of the movie world's top players. And despite the fact that his fame in the US is yet to equal his popularity back home, the former Take That star already has some notable fans.
Asked which British artist she would most like to work with, Britney Spears didn't hesitate: “Robbie Williams because he's hot and really sexy”, declared the pop diva on MTV. “I think we should do something together and he'll blow up."

13/05/04

FROM THE SUN:

Robbie Williams is determined to show he's a class act - and is jetting to the Cannes film festival to prove it. The pop superstar plans to fly to the South of France next week to meet as many Hollywood moguls as possible. Pals say the buzz of his cameo appearance as a singer in new film musical De-Lovely has given him cravings to be a movie star.
Officially, he is in Cannes to promote the film.
But aides say he will be talking to the biggest names in the business in a bid to secure meaty acting roles. He will belt out a song on the beach with Alanis Morisette and then mingle with such influential figures as Troy director Wolfgang Petersen.
A pal of Robbie's said last night: "He would love a stab at acting in a film. He's a very intelligent and witty person and he would be brilliant in front of the camera. He's confident this could lead to other things."
Robbie's in England at the moment writing new songs. But the source added: "He was asked to fly out and do some work for the movie he appears briefly in.
"He loves singing and has achieved more than he could ever dream of as a performer but he also wants to try his hand at different things.
"Cannes is a good chance to shake the right hands."
Robbie shot the scene for De-Lovely a year ago in an English country mansion.
The movie is based on a Hollywood production about the life and loves of controversial songwriter Cole Porter. He plays a Thirties crooner who sings one of Porter's classics, It's De-Lovely. He earned the role by covering another Porter hit, Well Did You Evah?, on his 2001 album Swing When You're Winning.
The movie's director, Irwin Winkler, says: "With some of the most spectacular music ever written, we'll be able to introduce Cole Porter to a whole new generation."
Let's just hope Robbie's bid for glory on the silver screen goes swingingly.

06/05/04

Britney Spears has set her sights on a new man - Robbie Williams. The 22-year-old said she wants to sing with the Angels star and help him achieve fame in the US. Of all the British artists she could collaborate with, it would be "Robbie Williams because he's hot and really sexy", Spears said.
Asked about the British singer's lack of success in the US, the pop princess replied that she could help Williams out.
"You know what, I think he's just beginning," she told MTV's TRL show. "I think we should do something together and he'll blow up."
The Toxic star, who is touring Britain, denied that the controversial video for her new single Everytime was about suicide. She said the video was about getting hit by a camera.
"There's a lot of controversy because people think the video is about suicide.
"But if you watch closely, my head gets hit by a camera and that's what it's about," she said. "But if it was about suicide, I think it probably would have been a positive thing because the percentage rate in suicide right now is the highest it's ever been and I think that the more people are aware are of it, it makes the kids not feel alone."

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