Move over, typical biopics—Better Man has arrived, and it’s taking everyone on an emotional rollercoaster. The film follows British pop icon Robbie Williams through his dizzying rise, dramatic fall, and ultimate resurgence. We sat down with Robbie himself to chat about the project, and trust us—he’s as candid as you’d expect.
Experiencing Himself Through Others
I dove in, sharing that I walked into the film spoiler-free and ended up in tears by the end. Robbie’s seen the film a few times himself. “I’ve watched it at festivals and screenings, and at times, I’ve started to cry and felt like I was never going to stop,” he admitted. Other times, he’s taken a more meta approach: “I sat there narcissistically experiencing people experience me, and that feels good too.”
Fair—if someone made a movie about your life, you’d want to watch the reactions too.
Reactions That Stick
According to Robbie, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and surprisingly profound. “It stays with people,” he explained. “They see themselves in me—my trials, my ego, my lack of self-worth, and the imposter syndrome. And because I’m a monkey in the film, people empathize more with animals than they do humans. There’s a breaking of the fifth, sixth, and seventh wall. I dunno.”
Robbie’s unique portrayal—literally as a monkey—is a bold storytelling choice, but it makes the emotional undercurrent hit even harder.
Why Now?
When asked why this was the right time for the film, Robbie kept it simple: “Michael Gracey asked me, and he may not ask twice.” Director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) clearly knew this was a story that needed to be told—and told now.
Lifting the Curtain on Fame
The film offers a rare peek behind the glamour of fame, showing the raw, unfiltered truth of Robbie’s life. “I don’t have the smarts to not show you everything,” Robbie confessed. “I don’t understand why other people don’t. I know it’s unusual because people point it out. But that doesn’t stop me from doing it.”
He’s refreshingly self-aware about his motivations, balancing altruism with ego: “The nice part of me wants to do this for altruistic reasons, and the egoic part wants to do it for career reasons. The two aren’t separated.”
Monkey Business and a Stellar Arse
A standout performance in the film comes from Jonno Davies, who plays Robbie’s human-turned-monkey counterpart. Robbie had nothing but praise: “Jonno does an incredible job. He’s a wonderful person and has a great arse. The bottom half of his body is better than mine, and I’m glad it’s up there representing me.”
When I joked about whether he had any notes for Jonno, Robbie grinned: “Make sure there’s a close-up on our arse. Those legs.”
More Than a Movie
At its core, Better Man isn’t just a film about Robbie Williams; it’s a film about humanity’s vulnerabilities and victories, touching on fame, addiction, relationships, and personal resilience. Whether you’re a longtime fan or someone meeting Robbie’s story for the first time, prepare for a wild, heartfelt ride.
Better Man is playing now in theaters, and you can watch the full interview below.
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