Robbie Williams is British pop royalty, and he’s gearing as much as rating a worldwide hit along with his new biopic Higher Man.
Robbie’s new biopic has been steadily drumming up world curiosity, even from individuals who have by no means heard of Take That. Whereas the brand new film is a standard biopic in that it tells the singer’s life story, it additionally comes with one very weird caveat.
As an alternative of an actor enjoying Robbie (or the person even enjoying himself), the singer is portrayed as a CGI anthropomorphic chimpanzee, making it appear extra like a Planet of the Apes movie quite than Stroll the Line.
Robbie Williams performs on stage through the “Wetten, dass…?” Reside Present on November 19, 2022 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. (Picture by Andreas Rentz/Getty Photographs)
Robbie does use his voice within the film, however the monkey was carried out by Jonno Davies, utilizing a movement seize go well with. Jonno additionally does some voice work for the movie.
Earlier than you catch Robbie in Higher Man, there are many key details it’s best to find out about him stepping into.
Robbie Williams Was a Member of the Boy Band Take That
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Robbie started his profession as a performer in class performs. In 1990, he joined the boy band Take That, when he was 16 years previous.
Robbie sang the lead on lots of the group’s early hits, like “Could It Be Heaven” and “I Found Heaven.” Because the group skyrocketed to fame, Robbie’s drug use created rifts throughout the band, and he left in 1995.
Robbie Williams attends the Golden Globes First-Time Nominee Celebration at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on December 17, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Picture by Kevin Winter/Getty Photographs)
After leaving the group, Robbie pursued a really profitable solo profession, however he did rejoin Take That in 2010 for his or her album Progress. He toured with the band in 2011, and he’s made a number of appearances at exhibits over time.
Regardless of rejoining the band, Robbie has not carried out on any of the three Take That albums that adopted 2010’s Progress.
Robbie Williams Has Launched 12 Solo Albums
After leaving Take That within the 90s, Robbie kicked off a solo profession by overlaying “Freedom” by George Michael. In September 1997, he launched his debut solo album Life Via a Lens.
Since going solo, Robbie has launched a powerful 12 albums, along with his most up-to-date being 2019’s The Christmas Current. Lots of his data have been licensed hits, and he’s change into one of many best-selling artists of all time.
Robbie Williams attends the “Better Man” European Premiere on the Odeon Luxe Leicester Sq. on November 27, 2024 in London, England. (Picture by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Photographs)
Robbie has been an unimaginable success within the UK. He’s credited with 4 out of the 60 top-selling albums of all-time within the UK, in response to Official Charts. That features each solo albums and Take That data.
Robbie has additionally received 18 Brit Awards, making him the particular person with essentially the most of these accolades. As for American awards, he’s been nominated for 2 Grammys, however he didn’t win both.
He Was a Choose on ‘The X Factor’
Robbie Williams speaks on stage through the “Better Man” particular screening at Le Grand Rex on December 13, 2024 in Paris, France. (Picture by Marc Piasecki/Getty Photographs for Paramount Photos)
In the identical approach that many singers have mentored youthful artists by showing as judges on American Idol or The Voice, Robbie did so on the famed British expertise competitors The X Issue.
In 2018, Robbie was named as one of many judges on the truth present alongside Simon Cowell, One Path’s Louis Tomlinson, and his personal spouse Ayda Area.
This was not the “Angels” singer’s first look on The X Issue. He additionally carried out on this system in 2009.
He’s Dated Spice Ladies
Robbie Williams attends Chopard ART Night on the Martinez on Might 23, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Picture by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Photographs for Chopard)
As a teen idol, Robbie’s private life actually drummed up a little bit of public curiosity. ’90s youngsters, brace yourselves, as a result of he’s dated two Spice Ladies.
He had a short romance with Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”) in 1997. He had one other quick romance with Geri Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”) in 2000, per NME.
Robbie has caught some warmth for making a joke about getting intimate with some Spice Ladies, which he later apologized for in an interview with The Solar. He clarified that it was merely a “joke.”
“I was on stage and I was about to sing ‘Back For Good’ and I said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m very fortunate I’m one of the only people in the world that can say they’ve been in Take That and four out of five of the Spice Girls,’” he stated.
Robbie Williams and Ayda Area attend the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Picture by Amy Sussman/Getty Photographs)
Among the Spice Ladies did come ahead to let the general public know that they didn’t sleep with him. “For the record I haven’t. I really haven’t. I said four out of five because it was good for the joke,” he stated.
Robbie’s different relationships over time have additionally made headlines. Within the late 90s, he dated and was even engaged to fellow singer Nicole Appleton.
Robbie has been married to American actress Ayda Area since 2010, and so they have 4 kids collectively.
Robbie Williams Is A Little bit of a UFO Buff
Robbie Williams attends The X Issue 2018 launch at Somerset Home on July 17, 2018 in London, England. (Picture by John Phillips/Getty Photographs)
Robbie’s CGI chimpanzee biopic could strike some viewers as unusual, however the hitmaker does have a penchant for the irregular.
The “Rock DJ” popstar was featured in a documentary the place he and filmmaker Jon Ronson ventured to a UFO conference in Nevada, per BBC.
Robbie has opened up about his pursuits within the otherworldly and experiences with the paranormal in interviews. He additionally claimed to have had an alien encounter in a 2024 interview on Free Girls.
Evidently, the person’s life story has the makings of a really attention-grabbing biopic!
