otr..: THE HARD CELLULOID; Pop world signs up big name celebs to help deliver success in the charts.
Byline: VICKY SPAVINVIDEO killed the radio star - but it has done wonders for the careers of television and movie actors.
A host of celebs, including Ali G, Rupert Everett and Alan Rickman, have raised their profiles by appearing alongside their favourite pop and rock stars.
And now former Dynasty star Joan Collins is hoping to revamp her career by making her music video debut alongside Badly Drawn Boy.
The 67-year-old star has teamed up with the scruffy, bearded singer, real name Darren Gough, to promote his new single, Spitting In The Wind.
The bizarre collaboration was first mooted earlier this year when Gough asked the legendary British actress to feature in the promo for the track.
Mercury Music Prize winner Gough was said to be a huge fan of Collins' early work, including The Stud and The Bitch, roles which she will make fun of in the video for the single taken from his award-winning album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast.
But it was Gough's friendship with her daughter Tara Newley which cemented the partnership.
Tara, Joan's only child from her marriage to actor Anthony Newley, suggested the video would be a good move for mum as it would introduce the actress to a younger audience.
The pounds 50,000 fee she is said to have picked up for her brief appearance might also have helped.
It is the first time Collins, who plays an heiress with no-one to take her to the ball, has appeared in a music video.
But there are plenty of stars who have been more than happy to bask in their three minutes of music fame.
Champion boxer Chris Eubank proved he was an upper cut above the rest when he appeared in Phats and Small's video for their 1999 hit single, Turn Around.
And spoof gangsta rapper Ali G was "largin it" with Madonna's posse when he appeared in her video for Music.
It wasn't the first time Madonna has cast screen stars in her pop videos.
For her cover of Don McLean's Seventies smash hit, American Pie, she frolicked with best friend, gay British actor Rupert Everett. She also teamed up with Danny Aiello, who starred in Pret A Porter and Leon, for her Eighties hit, Papa Don't Preach.
Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri's dream came true when her film idol, Alan Rickman, jumped at the chance to tango with the Balloch-born star in the video for In Demand.
The actor was so keen to team up with Spiteri he cancelled a week's holiday to shoot the promo.
Some of today's hottest Hollywood stars actually owe their success to music videos.
Friends actress Courteney Cox Arquette's big break came when she was spotted as an extra in the Bruce Springsteen video for Dancing In The Dark.
Westlife enlisted the help of uptown girl Claudia Schiffer to shoot to the top of the charts with their charity cover of Billy Joel's smash hit.
And Christopher Walken, who made his music video debut in Madonna's promo for Angel, is also set to appear in Fatboy Slim's forthcoming single, Weapon Of Choice, where he plays dance extraordinaire Fred Astaire.
But Shooting Stars comedian Vic Reeves' career got off to a shaky start - when he knocked on Shakin' Stevens' Green Door.
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| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
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| Date: | Apr 21, 2001 |
| Words: | 543 |
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