One “Burlesque” star’s exposing a whole new side of herself, and another is back to the bump-and-grind of Hollywood.
Popcorn Biz sashayed onto the red carpet at the Chinese Theater for the splashy, flashy premiere of the lingerie-loaded new musical starring acting newbie Christina Aguilera and eternal comeback queen Cher, where the divas dished on the challenges of bringing burlesque the big screen.
“The actual concept of burlesque has always been an inspiration for me -- I've always been intrigued by it,” Aguilera said of the corseted, stiletto-heeled art form. “I knew going into this that would be many challenges along the way and so much hard work. I don't think that I've ever worked harder on anything in my entire life! There were all different hats I had to wear, throwing myself headfirst into all the acting, the dancing and the singing.”
“I definitely got the bug,” the pop star of pursuing more acting projects, ‘but I'll never give up music. It's my first and foremost love.”
Cher -- another pop music icon who successfully transitioned to Oscar-worthy performances in films like “Silkwood” and “Moonstruck” before taking a lengthy break from the screen -- found herself surprisingly reenergized for a renewed run at acting after an 11-year hiatus.
“I have a belief that what belongs to you comes to you, so whatever happens, I would really like to act because I forgot how much I liked it,” said Cher, noting that reclaiming her onscreen chops “came really easy -- the acting, it took like a minute, but halfway into the first scene I was thinking, 'Well, you know, I can do this!'”
“The getting dolled up is the worst part of it, but then you get on stage and everyone looks so great,” Cher said, laughing. “I mean, and these girls are like 10-years old, so it was hard hold my end up! The costumes for the dancing numbers were unbelievable. Christina has one with pearls that almost is nothing and then it rips away, and the girls in 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend' -- they're unbelievable. I mean, the costumes are fabulous.”
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Co-star Julianne Hough -- the "Dancing With the Stars" pro-turned-country singer-turned-budding actress with a co-starring stint in “Burlesque” -- also found herself permanently bitten by the acting bug: “Yeah, I’ve been singing, dancing and acting since I was a little kid, and I’ve always wanted to pursue it,” she told us, “and with ‘Burlesque’ and now that I’ve just finished ‘Footloose’ as well, it’s been pretty amazing. I definitely want to keep doing it!”
Comedienne and self-proclaimed D-lister Kathy Griffin was hanging with her A-list friend Cher when she learned that the “Burlesque” offer was on the table. “We were in her room, shooting the breeze because we're pals, and she started telling me about this movie, and you know Cher’s like, 'Should I do it? I don't know if I should do it.' I thought, 'Wait a minute, singing and dancing? Cher? Sequins? Fabulousness? Do it!’ I'm not saying that I talked her into it. I'm just saying that it's a good fit.”
We had to ask: what’s it like, exactly, just hanging with Cher? “When I go to her house it's a no-makeup rule,” revealed Griffin. “We have to wear sweatpants and she orders from Nobu.”
