Robbie Williams is British pop royalty, and he’s gearing as much as rating a worldwide hit together with his new biopic Higher Man.
Robbie’s new biopic has been steadily drumming up international curiosity, even from individuals who have by no means heard of Take That. Whereas the brand new film is a conventional biopic in that it tells the singer’s life story, it additionally comes with one very weird caveat.
As a substitute 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 does use his voice within the film, however the monkey was carried out by Jonno Davies, utilizing a movement seize swimsuit. 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 entering into.
Robbie Williams Was a Member of the Boy Band Take That
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Robbie started his profession as a performer at school performs. In 1990, he joined the boy band Take That, when he was 16 years outdated.
Robbie sang the lead on most of the group’s early hits, like “Might It Be Heaven” and “I Discovered Heaven.” Because the group skyrocketed to fame, Robbie’s drug use created rifts inside the band, and he left in 1995.
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 reveals 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 masking “Freedom” by George Michael. In September 1997, he launched his debut solo album Life Via a Lens.
Since going solo, Robbie has launched a formidable 12 albums, together 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.
Whereas Robbie might not be a complete family identify in the USA, he’s a real star throughout the globe. In 2006, he broke the Guinness World File for many tickets bought in a day for his world tour, however that report has since been damaged by Taylor Swift, through ABC Information.
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 gained 18 Brit Awards, making him the particular person with probably 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 Decide on ‘The X Issue’
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 fact present alongside Simon Cowell, One Course’s Louis Tomlinson, and his personal spouse Ayda Subject.
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
As a teen idol, Robbie’s private life definitely 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 brief 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 used to be on stage and I used to be about to sing ‘Again For Good’ and I mentioned, ‘Women and gents, I’m very lucky I’m one of many solely folks on the earth that may say they’ve been in Take That and 4 out of 5 of the Spice Ladies,’” he mentioned.
A number of the Spice Ladies did come ahead to let the general public know that they didn’t sleep with him. “For the report I haven’t. I actually haven’t. I mentioned 4 out of 5 as a result of it was good for the joke,” he mentioned.
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 Subject since 2010, and so they have 4 youngsters collectively.
Robbie Williams Is A Little bit of a UFO Buff
Robbie’s CGI chimpanzee biopic might 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 Ladies.
For sure, the person’s life story has the makings of a really attention-grabbing biopic!
