Robbie Williams, a global star and symbol of a generation, makes a masterful return to the spotlight. The premiere of his biopic, Better Man, at the Grand Rex in Paris, gathered a crowd amazed by the chaotic saga of this complex artist: a 1990s idol, hero of excess, and redeemed family man.
The Meteoric Rise and the Vertigo of Fame
In 1990, a mischievous-eyed teenager joined the boy band Take That. He was 16, and his life was about to change. From concerts to collective hysteria, Robbie Williams became, in a few months, the emblem of British pop. But under the photographers’ flashes, there was a young man ill-prepared for the avalanche of pressures. In 1995, barely of age, he left the group in a resounding scandal. This break marked the beginning of a dizzying descent into hell.
Having become close to the Gallagher brothers of Oasis, Robbie adopted their rebellious epicurean lifestyle: alcohol, drugs, endless nights. In a poignant interview with Laurent Delahousse, he reflects on those years of excess: "When you become famous so young, it’s toxic. The monkey brain takes over." His confession reveals a lost Robbie, seeking to fill an existential void in a spiral of chaos.
Despite the demons besieging him — depression, body dysmorphia, and addictions — he delivered some of the greatest hits of his career: Angels, Feel, Rock DJ. But behind these successes was a man in pieces. Between 1997 and 2005, Robbie went through multiple rehab stints. His fans were unaware that at the height of his fame, he considered giving it all up, haunted by a feeling of emptiness that never left him.
A Sentimental Life Between Passions and Wounds
While Robbie Williams managed to reinvent his career, his love life, long worthy of scandalous novels, was no less so. His relationship with Geri Halliwell, ex-Spice Girl, was tabloid fodder in the 1990s. But today, he presents to the world a settled and loving man.
Married since 2010 to Ayda Field, he forms a solid couple with her, though not without complexities. In a moving interview in 2023, he reveals an intimate reality: the absence of sexual relations in their marriage, a consequence of stopping testosterone treatment prescribed for his depression. "The libido is gone, but it doesn’t affect us. Intimacy is much more than a matter of sex," says Robbie. A statement that contrasts with his past, marked by years of tumultuous romantic conquests.
The couple now shares a peaceful life, centered on their four children: Theodora, Charlton, Colette, and Beau. Some of them, born thanks to a surrogate mother, represent for Robbie a second chance: to be present and loving, far from the wanderings of his youth.
Better Man: A Bold Biopic
In Better Man, Robbie Williams chooses to depict himself through the striking metaphor of a chimpanzee, symbolizing his primal instincts and his difference. Through this artistic choice, director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) offers a fascinating dive into the highs and lows of a life marked by paradoxes.
The film does not shy away from any dark areas: the abuses, the conflicted relationships with his loved ones, the hours spent alone, wandering in luxurious hotel rooms, forever devoid of human warmth. Robbie hopes this biopic will not only be entertainment but a source of inspiration for those who, like him, seek to overcome their own demons: "I wanted to be the most destroyed person. Now, I want to be the healthiest. That’s my new mission."
The premiere at the Grand Rex brought together an eclectic array of personalities. Amanda Lear, indomitable, Daphné Bürki, wrapped in a bold winter outfit, and Marie-Sophie Lacarrau, radiant, shone among the guests. Longtime fans were also present, fervently applauding their idol.
The Eternal Rebirth of Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams is much more than a pop icon. He has become a cultural phenomenon, exploring unexpected territories: football club management, fashion creation, musicals. His insatiable thirst for novelty proves that at 50 years old, he is far from having settled down.
But it is in his relationship with his audience that Robbie remains unique. During his appearance in Paris, he was humble, emotional, paying tribute to those who supported him through his years of wandering. Better Man, expected in January 2025, promises to be one of the most emblematic chapters of his legend.
Robbie Williams, alternately angel and demon, manages to transcend his mistakes to embody a rare form of public vulnerability. With this biopic, he invites us to explore the abysses and the heights of a life that has never ceased to dazzle.
