When you imagine a musical biopic of legendary singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, a CGI chimpanzee in the lead role is not an obvious choice. However, Better personowned by writer-director producer Michael Gracey (The greatest showman), sees the proverbial ‘performing monkey’, played by Jonno Davies, become the key to a gripping story of dehumanizing celebrities. As Williams puts it: “It’s a very special magic trick. It makes you all callous and sensitive at the same time. We have deep empathy and compassion for animals, much more than for humans.”

In 1990, Williams rose to fame at the age of 16 in the British boy band Take That. Better person documents his early family life, his struggles with celebrity and addiction, and his journey to recovery and resolution, to the sound of his own music. Here, Williams discusses his feelings about the film, his career memories and what he likes to see on screen.

My story on screen

(Take That bandmate) Mark (Owen) reached out last week and said, ‘Hey, Rob, me and the guys are all in town. Can we see a screening of Better person?” And I thought, ‘Yes. I would love it if you did.” Which of course I would do, but I’m also terrified because our relationship is so complicated and so healed that returning to the scene of the crime and talking the way I talked as a 17 year old is bound to bring back old feelings. wounds for people. (My ex-girlfriend) Nicole (Appleton) went to watch last week with Natalie, her sister. I FaceTimed them all right after the movie and we all cried together. I don’t know how Liam (Gallagher) will act in the movie. It will be interesting. What I’m most concerned about is my father, because he’s a crucial part of that movie. And what the movie doesn’t convey is how charismatic and charming and wonderful it is to be with my father.

My first TV lesson

Our first appearance on TV was on BSkyB, and I think about 100 people in Britain probably had satellite dishes in their homes at the time. We were at Granada Studios in Manchester and Michaela Strachan was the host. It was overwhelming and frightening. I was already aware that my place in the band was not safe. And the management at the time had made me aware that they were unhappy with my progress, so I was terrified. Normally during a performance you’re just terrified because of fear of failure, and then you’re excited because something exciting has happened. But I was happy to be on TV and also sad that my livelihood and my future were in jeopardy.

The best advice I’ve ever received

To me this made perfect sense. Are embrace the madness. It has changed my view of my work and what I do. You try to protect yourself and have so much control over what’s happening to you, this overwhelming shit that’s happening, you resist it so much. And since I started seeing work as a job, and since I had kids and Dad goes to work, and since I embraced the madness, my life has gotten a lot better and I’m so grateful. I am so grateful to be who I am, to have what I have and to experience what I experience. And the sad thing is that despite all my splendor, I didn’t experience any joy. Now there’s a lot of joy and a lot of excitement. I can claim my place in the world, feel comfortable in it and enjoy it. And that is a huge gift.

The part I always wanted

Growing up, I thought I was going to be an actor. And I accidentally auditioned for a boy band and got in. Since then I have been playing the role of a pop star. This is me, like I’m my scriptwriter. I’m directing the shitshow. But that being said, actually acting, I don’t want to do that. That whole thing about, “And now we’re shooting from a different angle.” I’m just going to take five steps and turn right and we’re going to have to shoot it three different ways into Sunday and we’re going to do it until three o’clock this afternoon. When can I start saying things? That’s 5% of your job. The rest is damn boring.

My toughest career experience

Having a panic attack for two hours in front of 75,000 people in Leeds 2006. It changed my life because it was such a traumatic experience that I had to take evasive action. And from that moment on, very slowly, I became the person I am today. I left and retired. It was so big in my mind: this is killing me. Then my brain started turning to Swiss cheese because I had no purpose. And I realized: this is why people die when they retire. So I set a goal for myself and my first goal was to figure out how to do this and enjoy it.

The movies that make me cry

I don’t watch movies that make me cry. I stay away from them because I have no need for melancholy because that’s how I feel it between my ears. I want escape and folly. So anything that will depress me, anything that will make me sad, anything that will make me cry, I avoid as if I were shrinking from a hot flame. Because of my ‘isms’ I am there anyway. Why am I going down that street? That’s what I’m trying to escape from. Give me Housewives of Orange County. All Housewives.

The most fun I’ve had at work

I must say that the time has now come Better personit’s really exciting. I feel like a new artist who just got signed. And the excitement of what this new found world could mean. And I would say that the most fun I have right now is because I might have the opportunity to take another bite of the apple and experience and derive joy from the gifts that have been given to me. And I feel like I have a glint in my eye thinking that might happen.

The role I would like to play

Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Photo Show. That part where he comes down in the elevator and has his suspenders on. “How are you? I see you’ve met my trusty handyman.’ Because it’s fun and silly and dark and stupid and big and glorious. I am not one of those people who need, want or ever will play Othello or Hamlet. But like I said before, I don’t want to open the door from three angles.

The character that most resembles me

I think they’re all people I’d like to be like, and not something that reminds me of me. Danny Zuko was like: I want to be it That. I want to live in the fifties, sixties. I want to go to that school. I want to have that life. I want to look so handsome with that jaw. And so I don’t know if there are any characters that are like, oh, that’s me. They’re all characters I want to be.

My most quoted texts

That doesn’t happen. Not for a long time. There is no longer any gathering of fans outside the hotel. Everyone has children or grandchildren. I think they understand the folly of going to a stranger’s hotel and singing songs to him. Yes. That doesn’t happen.

My guilty pleasure

I don’t have any guilty viewing experience. My watching is my watching. I will tell you right now that I am very happy that there are football matches, Premier League and Port Vale, division two. But I’m unhappy with that Big brother does not broadcast on Saturdays, and Married at first sight is only on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Of MAFScut to the chase and just do the Australian one because that’s the daddy. Their psychological tests aren’t that strict, I think. It’s just amazing to see human behavior and duplicitous actions. It’s a soap opera and it’s Shakespearean. It’s great.

Who would play me in my biopic?

We have the perfect person in Jonno Davies Better person. But what was the name of that guy with the cheeky face who is amazing, he’s from London and he’s about 33? He’s in that movie with Harry Styles in it? (Pause) Okay, so who I was thinking of isn’t in that movie, so I’ll go with it Barry Keoghan.

My karaoke playlist

I don’t do karaoke. It’s not my thing. It’s like saying, ‘Okay, let’s have a night where we all get together and do some journalism. What do you prefer to write about?” I won’t do it. Why? Because it’s my job.