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truly talented
post Jul 19 2015, 09:14 AM
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Will Young on fame, therapy and being in control: "My ego was too big, I was acting like a kid"

07:00, 19 JULY 2015
BY EMMA JONES
Singer, actor and the first ever Pop Idol, Will Young, 36, is back. And this time, he’s loving every single second of it…


Will feels he's in a better place now

They may have won the prize of a lifetime, but it’s notoriously hard for folk who triumph in singing shows to have credible careers. But Will Young, the winner of the first of its kind reality TV contest, Pop Idol, is a star in his own right.

With a not-too-shabby six top three albums under his belt (four of which were No1s), world tours and a successful acting career, it’s fair to say Will has done alright for himself.

On the day of our shoot he’s running late – he’s just back from Glastonbury and arrives in full festival mode, complete with straw hat (which becomes the star prop on our cover), shorts and, of course, the mandatory post-festival bloodshot eyes and worse-for-wear complexion.

Still, if he’s sleep-deprived, we wouldn’t have guessed. Will’s chirpy and talks constantly. Topics include how clogged up his bowels are, his dreams of releasing an exercise DVD, his favourite halloumi wraps, and how much he adores kids.

He’s engaging, asks questions, has a mega-mucky mouth (but always whispers or mouths the swear words) and, all in all, is so easy to be around he stays for an hour after the shoot chatting away, about relationships, washing machines, and again, those halloumi wraps.

Hard to imagine such a happy, smiley guy as someone who openly suffered from depression and addiction at the height of his career, which Will admits facing was one of the "toughest journeys of his life".

Having taken four years out, his latest album, 85% Proof, shot to No1. In case you’re wondering, the title refers to his life in general – he just doesn’t believe in 100%, "There will always be 15% more that you want."

Perhaps that’s the right attitude for someone who says he still battles anxiety every day. He’s faced up to his demons, knows his weaknesses and refuses to let them drag him down with a ‘Leave Right Now’ approach (sorry). Will talks highs, lows and egos…

You’re back! What have you been doing for the past four years?

I did Cabaret the musical and toured with that. I went away with my dad to Sri Lanka. We had such a good time, we went whale-watching. Then I moved house, moved label, moved management, spent some time in Cornwall, did some studying, did some teaching. Read a book. Did a programme. Hang on, this wasn’t a break at all, was it?


Will on stage in Cabaret

Not really, but what made you then return to music?

I just suddenly felt ready to write music again. And make music videos, which are my favourite. Videos are just more room to show off. They’re 3D music. Gosh, that’s a cool line. I should be a politician or something, except I’m not that clever.

You are…

No. It’s because I’m posh, so people think I know what I’m talking about.

When was the moment you realised your life had changed?

Not straight after winning Pop Idol. It was Leave Right Now. That song embedded me as a singer and I thought, "Right, things are getting interesting now…"

Yet when you made it to the top, you found yourself feeling depressed…

I had a No1 album, a TV special, had just moved into an amazing house… and I wasn’t happy. It happens a lot with singers and they just go mental. I suddenly thought it was all about me and I didn’t trust anyone. I was making decisions that were right and they paid off, so I thought, "Why would I trust anyone else?"

You wanted complete control over everything?

I totally stopped listening to others. I even took a board meeting – which was hysterical, looking back. I did campaigns for marketing, PR, I thought I could do it all. But I can understand why artists do lose trust in people. Your neck is on the line every time. So I did need a great team, or else it would have gone tits-up.


Will winning Pop Idol in 2002

You also struggled with addictions to spending and porn…

Oh, I was spending a lot of money. And I certainly had and do have addictive behaviours. I’m a smoker. I could be addicted to over-thinking. Literally anything, but I work hard to work out what the cause of my addictive behaviours might be.

When did you realise you needed to get help?

I became a bit of a d**k. And I realised I had to stop being a d**k or else I’d lose my job. I very clearly had a moment where I was like, "You better start enjoying this again, because this job is a pretty good gig."

My ego just got too big. And I was insecure. People were allowing me to act like a kid, but now no one ever would. I know myself really well now.

Through therapy?

God, yeah. Loads of therapy! I’m a huge advocate of therapy and mindfulness. But I worked it out and had lots of help. I’m very proud of what I did.

Do you still have to bite your tongue and stop yourself from being too controlling again?

All the time. I’ll do it 20 times a day in various situations. But now I’ll just have a moment before I do something that helps me to maintain composure.

I don’t like cupboard doors open and things like that, but that’s because it irritates me. Not because of OCD. I never used to fly off the handle that much, but now I just think before I speak.

When was the last time you did fly off the handle?

I haven’t in ages. Honestly. I shouted at my brother the other week about wanting a Starbucks, but then I got the giggles.

What keeps you awake at night?

"Have I wet the bed? Thank God I haven’t, because I’m 36." But I’m not a big worrier. I might have something on my mind, like work, but it doesn’t stick around.

So mostly it’s just if I’ve wet the bed, and luckily I haven’t for quite a few days now. Or if my puppy has p*ssed somewhere. Always toilet-related worries, which is very British.

How is your relationship with your family?

Great, I went to Glastonbury with my mum. I never trust anyone who says their home life is perfect, no family is perfect.


The hat that made it to our shoot

How did your twin brother Rupert feel when your career took off? Did you ever feel guilty?

No, screw him! I left him behind and hit the turbo [laughs]! No, I don’t think so.
He is such a supporter of mine. I did V Festival once and this big guy tried to storm the stage. He got through three security guards, but he didn’t get through Rupert. He slammed him to the ground!

I just looked out of the corner of my eye while singing, thinking, "Why is Rupert sat on this massive guy?" So he’s got my back. So has my mum, but I don’t think she would wrestle someone to the ground. She’s only 5ft 3in.

Does Rupert get to hang out with your famous friends?

I don’t have any famous friends. All my friends are old school and uni people. I would have gone quite loopy if I’d have just hung out with famous people.

Dame Judi Dench is famous and we hear the two of you are quite pally after starring in Mrs Henderson Presents…

Oh, she is cool. She’s a nice person to be friends with.

She made a comment about your, er…

My penis, yeah. Well, she’s lucky. She’s one of the few women who have seen it. And she gave it a good rating too. 10/10. And trust me, she got a good payout for that!

Did she give you any acting tips?

No. She told me off for being late. Well, she said, "I’ve only ever been late once in my career." I was like, "Sh*t, she’s cross!"



What’s been your weirdest experience with a fan?

Oh, so many. The ones who write to me a lot and say weird things freak me out. I always say to my manager, "If this person kills me, you kill them for me! I don’t care if you go to prison, shoot them dead."

Other than being shot dead, how can fame affect your relationships?

I’m not seeing anyone at the moment, but it depends if the person can handle the attention. Fame is what you make of it. Personally, for me, I couldn’t imagine anything worse than that lavish lifestyle.

Would you ever use a dating site?

I’m on a dating site at the moment. I think they’re brilliant.

Don’t you worry people click on you just because you’re well-known?

No. Why the hell shouldn’t I use a dating site? Just because I’m famous, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I’m busy and it’s a great way to meet people. I’ve been on dates from it. I’m 36, who gives a sh*t? Not me. I’ll do what I bloody like.

What’s the best and worst thing about fame?

The best is when people tell me how my music has affected their lives for the better. The worst is when people say, "You’re Will Smith, aren’t you?" It’s lucky I don’t have an ego now, or else I’d cry every day.

Would you do it all again?

Yep. Except I wouldn’t do World Idol, that was f**king awful. Oh, and I regret not telling my deputy head teacher to f**k off as well. Because he was horrible. Other than that, everything I would do the same.

85% Proof is out now. For more information about Will's tour, visit willyoung.co.uk


http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news...control-6073592


This post has been edited by truly talented: Jul 19 2015, 09:15 AM
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Dianne
post Jul 19 2015, 09:50 AM
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Thanks for posting the article up TT biggrin.gif Great article again and some lovely photos wub.gif
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munchkin
post Jul 19 2015, 11:25 AM
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Thanks TT biggrin.gif
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ros
post Jul 20 2015, 07:18 PM
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Thanks TT. I really enjoyed that article, he is so tongue in cheek! laugh.gif
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