Lily James moving on from Pamela Anderson role to become pop star
ACTRESS Lily James is preparing for her next big role – as a pop star.
Fresh from a transformation into Baywatch pin-up Pamela Anderson for sex-tape drama Pam & Tommy, she is now eyeing up the charts.
Last year I told how the former Downton Abbey star was preparing to launch a music career and this summer it is finally happening.
The pandemic put paid to her plans and Lily was forced to put her big moment on ice.
But I can reveal she will drop two new tracks in the coming months, finally taking on the charts after years conquering film box offices.
Lily, who played Lady Rose MacClare in Downton, has teamed up with DJ Yoda to make it happen.
A source said: “She has written and performed two amazing songs with DJ Yoda, called Airplane Mode and Breathe.
“Lily was planning on releasing one last year but everything got delayed.
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“Now she has decided to treat fans to two tracks rather than one.
“She loves singing and has a great voice.
“She cannot wait for people to hear what they come up with.”
This won’t be the first time fans have heard Lily sing.
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She showcased her vocals in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018 and appeared in the musical film Yesterday a year later.
At the time she was praised by Mamma Mia! leading lady Meryl Streep, who said of Lily’s voice: “I had no idea Lily had these singing chops.
“Some people sing from the bottom of their feet right up. She shakes the rafters. She is amazing.”
Lily has credited the ABBA-inspired movie with helping to rediscover her passion for singing.
She said in 2018: “I loved singing as a kid and then I stopped and I would never get up and do karaoke.
“I lost my confidence and then suddenly I was forced to embrace it full throttle.”
I’m looking forward to hearing what she has come up with.
Oli's voice control
BRING ME THE HORIZON frontman Oli Sykes says he has finally learned to respect his incredible voice.
In an exclusive interview at the Malta Weekender, organised by tech company Pollen, the Sheffield-born rocker said that almost 20 years in the heavy metal group had taken its toll.
Oli said backstage: “I have lost my voice loads through lack of respect. It is like stamina training – every day you have to be doing a little bit, but not too much.
"I do 20 minutes, then 30 and build it up. This is a marathon, an hour and 40 set.
“Then you scream your head off again for the same time the next night.”
Oli added: “Our twenties were a lot different to now.
“I think everyone has found their way to make it a good time without getting wasted every day.”
Jesy gets back to the brief
IT looks like Jesy Nelson is on red alert for the bank holiday.
The former Little Mix singer made sure she caught our attention by stripping to a pair of bright knickers.
Jesy completed her look by rocking a matching crop-top.
The singer has returned from a working trip to Los Angeles, where she was working on her debut solo album.
After her first single Boyz divided fans’ opinion when it was released in October amid accusations of “blackfishing’’ in the video, Jesy decided to keep a low profile.
But rather than wallow in self-pity, insiders tell me she threw herself into her music and making sure the album is the best it can be.
Hopefully 2022 is a better year for Jesy.
Blake's fab look
BLAKE RICHARDSON’s resemblance to Sir Paul McCartney is impossible to deny.
So it came as no surprise to hear that the member of pop trio New Hope Club has been cast as the Beatles legend in a movie.
He will take on the role of Macca in upcoming Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man.
Backstage in London, alongside New Hope Club bandmates Reece Bibby and George Smith, Blake told me: “I’ve been doing a lot of rehearsals, it’s very exciting.
“Paul has not been in contact yet. But I’d like to think he would be proud someone who has grown up being so obsessed by him, and who adores him, has the job. I’ve tried to follow in the footsteps he has walked.
“I’ve been watching videos of him online since I was about ten.”
The band, inset, would tell Los Angeles taxi drivers Blake was Paul’s grandson – to help them win kudos as they recorded their debut record.
Reece said: “There is obviously very much a resemblance. The first time we went to LA, we were only 16.
"We would turn up and the taxi drivers would recognise our accents from England and we’d be like, ‘This guy here, that’s Paul McCartney’s grandson’. They’d love it and then often tell us how they drove The Beatles.”
The group are releasing single Girl Who Does Both on June 15 and an album is due this year.
George added: “We’ve worked so hard on the album.
“We are now more comfortable in writing and opening up. It’s more vulnerable. We’ve been able to be fully ourselves.”
Sam and Cat's Jubi-glee
SAM SMITH and Cat Burns surprised Jubilee revellers with a live outdoor performance.
The Stay With Me singer joined the rising star at Speakers’ Corner in London’s Hyde Park, above, to debut their new track.
Sam will feature on a new version of Cat’s gold-certified single Go, which is out on Monday.
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I’m told the follow-up to Sam’s 2020 album Love Goes is imminent.
Those who have heard the tracks insist that it is some of the singer’s best music yet.
Mel goes solo
MELANIE C has been unable to get all five Spice Girls back together to headline Glastonbury – but she is doing the next best thing by performing a solo set there.
Despite her best efforts to reunite with Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel B and Victoria Beckham, she will instead play on the William’s Green stage on the Thursday of the festival.
But if she does want to make sure organisers hear her calls for the girl group to get a big gig next year, she is in luck.
Festival founder Michael Eavis will be backstage as his band will perform at William’s Green 15 minutes after Mel’s set ends.