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I was in Spice World 25 years ago – backstage secrets from bizarre diets to very awkward phone call with David Beckham
IT’S hard to believe it’s been a staggering 25 years since Spice World hit our screens, grossing over $100 million worldwide at the box office.
And while most of us will recall the double decker tour bus and spectacular Nineties outfits, there's plenty of behind-the-scenes gossip that not even the most die-hard Spice Girls fans will know.
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Actress Naoko Mori, now 51, starred in the comedy and played Nicola, the pregnant best pal of bandmates Geri Horner, now 50, Victoria Beckham, 48, Mel B, 47, Mel C, 48, and 46-year-old Emma Bunton.
The star – who has also had roles in the likes of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Absolutely Fabulous - worked with the group for six months, before the film was released on Boxing Day, 1997.
Now, speaking exclusively to The Sun, the star lifts the lid on what it was like behind the scenes and what the famous singers were really like, including an insight into David and Victoria’s romance, and the lengths the stars went to in order to stay in shape…
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‘Girls were fainting in auditions’
Naoko was lucky enough to spend several months during the summer of 1997 rushing around London with the girl band in secret, filming scenes for Spice World.
The movie came just a year after the pop band had burst on to the UK scene with their debut single, Wannabe.
Naoko landed the job as she’d previously worked with Spice World director Bob Spiers on the hit BBC show Absolutely Fabulous.
She also reckons she landed the role as she was one of the few actresses who was unfazed by the band’s mega-stardom.
She says: "Before I went in the director said, 'Okay, brace yourself because you're about to meet all the girls.'
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"I was jet-lagged and spaced out, and I was literally going, 'Okay, which one are you? And you're Mel? Oh no, you're Mel! Oh wait, you're both called Mel? And what is your name?'
"I just had no idea! Maybe that got me the part, because I was so unfazed by them all. I heard other girls were going into the audition and fainting!
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‘I had no idea who David Beckham was!’
While they are a huge power couple now, at the time footballer David Beckham and Victoria had just started dating.
Flatteringly, Posh even confessed to Naoko that boyfriend David was a huge fan.
Naoko recalls: "Victoria was talking about her boyfriend one day and she said, 'We've been talking about you and he remembers you from Ab Fab, and he thinks you're hilarious.'
"I had no idea who her boyfriend was, so she gave me the phone and said his name was David.
“I said 'Oh hello David,' and we just begin having a natter, and he asks if I'm having fun and we chat about Ab Fab.
"You could tell they were close, as he would ring a lot and she would be so happy on the phone. I am glad they have stayed together."
Additionally, while Posh may have a cold image, Naoko says the opposite is true.
She says: "Victoria is hilarious! She really is so funny and I don't think people always realize that because of the whole Posh persona.
"She was always making funny asides or telling jokes."
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Carrot sticks and celery
The girls had an array of profitable sponsorship deals, including a range of lollipops with Chupa Chups, but behind the scenes they each took staying in shape very seriously - and would work out and do push ups in between takes.
Naoko says: "The girls were all really healthy and focused on looking in great shape.
"I remember there was a lot of carrots and celery.
"There were no private chefs, they all ate really healthily and worked out and that's why they are who they are.
“They definitely made me question what I ate and I was like, 'Okay, let's move away from the cakes.'
“They were incredibly disciplined in that respect and would all work out. I really respected them for that."
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Top secret cameos
The Spice Girls themselves weren’t the only famous faces to appear in the film, and the premiere was even attended by now-King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Their manager was played by Richard E Grant, and star cameos included the likes of Jennifer Saunders, Michael Barrymore, Richard Briers, Roger Moore, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Bob Geldof, Bob Hoskins, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
Naoko says: "We had no idea who was going to be making cameos, and their trailers only had their character's names on the door, rather than their real names.
“One trailer said 'Good Looking Man' and we happened to be standing outside the trailer saying, 'Who's it going to be? Who is the good looking man?' and then Craig Kelly stepped out.
“We had no idea from one day to the next who was going to turn up.”
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'They were real'
Naoko also believes things were very different back then compared to today.
She says: "I think the difference between a lot of celebrities and fame these days is that it is almost too posed... Everything is measured by social media.
“Looking at the Kardashians, you know that what you see isn't the real them and they find the right angle and light for selfies.
“[Whereas the Spice Girls] were a completely friendly girl band celebrating who they were and not trying to be something they're not.
"They were real and weren't as manufactured as a lot of people today."
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More than just a job
While many fans would presume the band were hired for their reputation alone, it turns out they actually had far more input into the content of film than you might expect, requesting script changes to keep their personas as authentic as possible.
Naomi says: "What was impressive was how they'd throw in ideas as we were filming.
"It was not just a case of turning up, saying the lines and leaving.
"The girls had a lot of artistic involvement in the script, shots and their interaction with the other celebrities.
“They were invested in their jobs, and were keen to stay true to themselves and stay honest.”
A shocking departure
However, a few months after the highs of movie stardom, the Spice Girls as they were known fell apart.
Geri left the band in May 1998 - just before they were about to depart on tour.
Naoko adds: "I was pretty shocked about Geri leaving, just like a lot of people were.
"On set all I saw was five girls being themselves and having a great time - all I knew is what I saw.
"They were doing a great job so it was pretty shocking to me.
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“They all seemed to get along so well and that translated into the movie and that is certainly how it was on set.
“I just remember having a lot of fun and having a great laugh with five friends - that's how it felt."
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