The Robbie Williams Story: A Musical, a Monkey, and a Healthy Dose of Shame
Ah, Robbie Williams, the original pop bad boy turned… well, slightly older pop bad boy. His life story is about to hit the big screen in the semi-autobiographical musical film, Better Man, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. But before we dive into the juicy bits, let’s get one thing straight: the man is being played by a CGI chimpanzee. Yes, you read that right. A chimpanzee. Because, as Robbie himself said, "I love eccentricity and I love unusual and I love surreal." Fair enough, Robbie. We all love a good bit of surrealism, especially when it comes to our own life stories.
But enough about the monkey business (sorry, had to). The real meat of the story is Robbie’s on-again, off-again relationship with All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, which is depicted in the film. And let me tell you, Robbie is not exactly proud of his behavior during that time. In fact, he’s downright ashamed. "She didn’t deserve that, she’s a good person," he said on The One Show, referring to his antics during their relationship. Ah, Robbie, you old softie. It’s nice to see you’ve developed a bit of a conscience over the years.
Now, I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit curious about how the film will depict Robbie’s, ahem, "idiot boyfriend" phase. I mean, we all know he’s had his fair share of, shall we say, "interesting" moments in the past. But I suppose that’s all part of the fun of watching a musical about someone’s life, right? The drama, the romance, the occasional bout of madness… it’s all just part of the Robbie Williams package.
And speaking of packages, I have to say, I’m a bit intrigued by the film’s director, Michael Gracey. Not only did he helm The Greatest Showman, but he also managed to convince Hugh Jackman to come on board with the music for that film. And how did he do it? By getting Robbie Williams to do a video telling Hugh how great the music was, of course. Because, as we all know, Robbie Williams is the ultimate seal of approval when it comes to musical theatre.
All joking aside, Better Man does look like it’s going to be a fascinating film. With its unique blend of music, drama, and, of course, CGI chimps, it’s sure to be a hit with fans of Robbie Williams and musical theatre alike. And who knows, maybe we’ll even learn a thing or two about the man behind the monkey. So, mark your calendars for December 26, folks, and get ready to sing along to the story of Robbie Williams’ life.
Robbie Williams: A Life in Brief (and with a Monkey)
- Born: February 13, 1974
- Known for: Being a pop star, being a bit of a lad, being married to Ayda Field
- Claim to fame: Being a member of Take That, having a number one single with "Angels"
- Current project: Better Man, a semi-autobiographical musical film about his life
- Current state of mind: Apparently, feeling a bit ashamed about his past behavior. But hey, we’ve all been there, right?
The One Show: Where Celebrities Go to Talk About Their Feelings
I have to say, I do love The One Show. It’s like the British equivalent of Oprah, but with more awkward silences and fewer couches. And Robbie Williams’ appearance on the show was no exception. I mean, who doesn’t love a good chat about their feelings, especially when it comes to past relationships and CGI monkeys? It’s like the perfect combination of therapy and entertainment. So, if you missed Robbie’s appearance on The One Show, do be sure to catch up. It’s a real treat.
And that’s all for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed this little rundown of Robbie Williams’ life and times. And remember, if you’re feeling ashamed about your past behavior, just remember: you can always make a musical about it and have a CGI monkey play you. Problem solved.
Robbie Williams found scenes depicting his tumultuous relationship with All Saints singer Nicole Appleton to be the most challenging parts to watch in his new semi-autobiographical film Better Man, describing them as “the most difficult bits” that left him feeling a deep sense of regret and shame.
The musical film, based on the true story of Williams’ rise, fall, and return to fame, stars a CGI chimpanzee as the British musician, a creative choice that Williams enthusiastically supported due to his love of eccentricity and surrealism.
In a candid interview on the BBC’s The One Show, Williams confessed that watching the scenes with Appleton, whom he dated on and off from 1997 to 1999, was particularly difficult because she was the only person in the movie who didn’t harm him in some way, and he couldn’t help but feel ashamed of how he treated her.
Williams, who has been married to Ayda Field since 2010 and shares four children with her, described Appleton as a “good person” who didn’t deserve the way he treated her during their relationship, which was marked by intense media scrutiny and public attention.
Appleton, who later married Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher and had a son with him, has also spoken publicly about the challenges of her high-profile relationships and the lessons she’s learned from them.
The film’s director, Michael Gracey, who also helmed The Greatest Showman, revealed that Williams played a key role in convincing Hugh Jackman to greenlight the music for that film, with Williams recording a video message that helped persuade Jackman to move forward with the project.
Better Man is set to hit UK theaters on December 26, offering a unique and unflinching look at Williams’ life, both on and off stage.
