Luke Evans parties with Gandalf and has no fear of The Crow 'curse'

The Hobbit star Luke Evans says he is not worried about being killed on set when he undertakes the lead role in a remake of ‘cursed’ film The Crow.

The 34-year-old Welshman – whose Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker died in a car accident last month – says he does not fear suffering the same fate as Brandon Lee after he was accidentally shot dead on the set of the 1994 original.

‘I’m not one of those superstitious people,’ he told Guilty Pleasures in an exclusive chat, brushing off claims the film is cursed.

‘It is incredibly sad that [Brandon] died making the movie. He was a very talented actor. It is a very beautiful story, The Crow. It is a very tragic story with huge emotional themes. We plan to tell the story differently and with a lot of integrity to the original comic book.’

Superstitions aside the actor proves himself quite fearless, taking on most of his own stunts during the making of Hobbit sequel The Desolation Of Smaug and using his time off set in Wellington to chase thrill-seeking activities.

‘I used to take my car and go down to the South Island for five or six days and climb glaciers and jump out of planes and jump off bridges and go white water rafting – a bit of thrill seeking,’ he said, sounding something like an unofficial ambassador for New Zealand’s tourist office.

Indeed, filming of The Hobbit sounds more like a holiday camp than a demanding film set.

‘We were all neighbours on the same street. It was like Coronation Street in Wellington. Ian McKellen had the biggest house. Orlando Bloom had the next biggest house. I had the little rickety wooden one in the middle, but there was a hot tub out the back and the sea was out the front. We all lived on the coast. It was amazing,’ he boasts.

And when he was not kicking Orc’s butt in front of the cameras or chasing adventures of his own, Evans could be found lording it up with Sir Ian who returns as Gandalf in the film.

‘Ian was like the gel. He brought everyone together and would have dinners and parties in his house. It was a really great experience,’ he said.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 10 December 2013]

Leona Lewis on drinking, road rage, and hotel trashing

She’s famed for her squeaky clean ways but Leona Lewis has told Guilty Pleasures that behind closed doors she’s trashing hotel rooms and getting so hammered that she pukes.

The X Factor warbler revealed a simple bout of road rage can send her off the rails.

‘Men always feel like they can take the micky out of women on the road and I don’t like it,’ the 28-year-old Bleeding Love beauty bleated.

Incensed recently by one aggressive male driver, Leona told how she took it out on her champagne flutes in a fit of rage.

‘I smashed up [my] hotel room [because] I was angry. I gave a table a kick and I didn’t actually think it would fall over. I [normally] do it so that it won’t damage things but things got smashed. Champagne glasses broke. I had bad road rage,’ she admitted.

And when she’s not throwing a wobbly, Lewis is grateful that her pals are on hand to hold her hair when she’s so drunk she’s sick.

‘We usually go out. The other night we went out to a show to see RnB superstars in Wembley Arena. Faith Evans was there, Kelly Price, Mario, Sisqo, it was so fun. We were dancing for about five hours! We do fun stuff like that and go out to bars. They are the kind of friends I can get roaring drunk around and let loose. They have seen my worst side 150 times! They have been there through the ups and downs, the hair holding when I’m so drunk I’m sick.’

And in between her raucous partying,  Leona is thrilled to release her first festive EP, Christmas, With Love, which features her upbeat tune One More Sleep – the video of which sees the singer lording it up with her real-life friends.

‘It’s me and my mates. They wanted me to cast a bunch of actors but that wasn’t happening because I wanted it to be realistic. I feel like they are a handsome bunch!’ she beamed, promising the light-hearted fun in the video (which includes a Christmas dinner food fight) is tame compared to what they get up to in reality.

‘We are usually worse than that. They were on their best behaviour and still they were a bit mental. They were chucking s*** around the kitchen. My friend has dreads and we were putting flour in his hair as he can’t wash it – he wanted to kill us! He was shouting “Don’t touch my hair!” It was so much fun.’

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Wednesday 3 December 2013]

Paloma Faith reacts to claims she lies about her age

Paloma Faith has come clean about her age and her secret marriage in a tell-all chat with Guilty Pleasures.

The flame haired Hackney crooner tackled the rumour mill after it emerged she is actually 32 when it was believed she was 28.

‘I don’t think it is really relevant or matters how old I am. I think what matters is the music and the performances and the way I behave. I don’t think I behave like someone in their 30s. Or maybe I do? Maybe I act like someone in their 50s who has got old enough to not give a s*** anymore,’ the singer said, insisting women are put under pressure over age.

‘When I feel like talking about my age or I feel it is relevant, I will talk about it,’ she added.

She also revealed she hasn’t given up on love even though it was recently revealed she has been through a divorce following a secret marriage to a New Zealand chef.

‘It was just a young, frivolous thing. We were in our early twenties and we did something quickly and realised it was a mistake. But we’re still close. I am still friends with him. All my other relationships were the ones that screwed me up, not that one!’ she said of her marriage to Rian Haynes which ended in 2009 after four years.

The quirky dresser was speaking at the Faith in Art at Albums for Art’s gallery in London, where she also said she would never allow a record label to pressure her about how to dress.

‘I feel like I put myself under so much pressure to keep certain standards that I do it more than anyone else would. I’m not easily told what to do either,’ she said.

‘I think everyone has always celebrated the way that I have styled myself and there is something brave about it. Even when I’ve been critisised, my label and everyone has always been really supportive of my decision to be me and not give a s*** about what people think.

‘Recently, actually, people have been more complimentary but I’m convinced it’s because I’ve lost some weight. It’s weird that in society you have to lose weight and wear the same clothes before people think [you] look good,’ she said, at the exhibition of her album and singles artwork from over the years.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Sunday 1 December 2013]

Elyar Fox on Bieber comparisons and debut single Do It All Over Again

New pop hunk Elyar Fox says he doesn’t mind being compared to the likes of Justin Bieber and Conor Maynard after making the jump from online smash to record label darling.

The 18-year-old Londoner is set to take over the airwaves this winter with his debut single, Do It All Over Again, and got signed to Sony’s RCA label after clocking up over 14 million hits on YouTube with his cover versions of songs.

‘They are both successful and doing really well right now. I would be flattered to be compared to someone as successful and making great music,’ the singer told Guilty Pleasures, saying he doesn’t object to comparisons.

‘What separates me is that I came from a rock background and I started out when I was 13 in a pop-punk band in high school and gigging doing all the messy pubs and bars and stuff. I think [it gives me] a different edge to the other guys,’ he said.

With his single’s lyrics detailing his lust to find a girl that ‘keeps me up all night’, Fox insists his track is perfectly innocent.

‘It’s not about shagging! It’s about partying!’ he laughed – with a knowing wink.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Friday 22 November 2013]

Ariana Grande to record Halloween EP

Ariana Grande says she is planning to become the soundtrack to all our festive holidays.

‘I love Christmas but I like Halloween more,’ the 20-year-old tbabe old Guilty Pleasures as she went over her collection of Christmas ditties.

‘I’m doing a Halloween EP next year! I’ve said it first! I called Scooter [her manager] the other day and I said “Why are we doing a Christmas EP?” and he was like “Because it’s Christmas and the happiest time of year. You need to do Christmas music – you have the perfect voice for it.” And I was like “We’re doing a Halloween EP next year!” And he said “I am down with it!” I’ll look dope as a vampire!’

With ghosts, ghoulies and vampires all proving to be terrifying fictional monsters, Grande has revealed she has a real-life fear for her own fans who have been recently ‘killing themselves’ trying to vote her champion of an MTV award online.

‘My fans are literally killing themselves trying to get me to win. And it’s very flattering and sweet and I love my fans so much. But I want my fans to be healthy and sleep!’ she said.

‘I’m so happy with a nomination – that means the world to me, but that’s all I need. I love the dedication [of my fans] and I live for them, they are the sweetest kids in the world, but this award thing has got to a point where I am scared for them. They are fighting and I don’t condone that drama. They’re getting a hard time from other music fans and they’re all fighting for who they want to win the award. I wish they could just vote peacefully,’ she said.

Grande will release a new Christmas track every week until December 11 with two cover tracks and two original numbers as part of her Christmas Kisses campaign.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Thursday 21 November 2013]

Laurence Fox: I fear killing my wife Billie Piper

Laurence Fox fears his latest role might lead to him killing his wife, Billie Piper.

The 35-year-old actor is currently starring in the West End production of Strangers On A Train which sees his character conspiring to bump off his other half before marrying someone new.

‘Do I worry about bringing my work home and killing my wife? Yes. I’m going to kill her tonight,’ he joked with Guilty Pleasures after the press opening of his show that will run for the next three months at London’s Gielgud Theatre.

Joking aside, he does admit his character’s descent into insanity remains confined to the workplace.

‘No I think it’s alright. It’s the job. On stage you go crazy. I just turn up, do my job, go home and try my best,’ he said.

Meanwhile 31-year-old Piper – who makes her own acting return this winter with a guest appearance in Doctor Who – had nothing but praise for her dashing husband.

‘He was amazing,’ the gorgeous actress gushed after her other half performed in front of a star-studded crowd including Jerry Hall, Graham Norton and Richard E Grant.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures Thursday 21 November 2013]