Taylor Swift asks for acting tips from Dame Judi Dench instead of actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn
CAT lover Taylor Swift is not one to mix business and purr-leasure.
Instead of asking for acting pointers from boyfriend Joe Alwyn — who stars in Bafta Best Film frontrunner The Favourite — she turned to another Brit for help.
I can reveal Taylor arrived at the Warner Bros Studios in Watford on Thursday (stopping at an Esso Tesco Express en route) to start work on the film adaptation of Cats.
It is her first film and she has been crippled by anxiety about acting, turning to co-star Dame Judi Dench for advice.
A film source said: “Taylor looked to be in her element as she turned up at the studios wearing a nude bodystocking.
“She was smiling and swinging about the place in dance rehearsals and is already a hit with the other cast members, who all love her.”
But it seems her show of confidence was an act.
The source added: “Taylor confided in the crew later that Judi had been giving her acting tips, as she was nervous about people seeing her perform for the first time.
“Judi has really taken her under her wing and it’s been boosting Taylor’s confidence.”
The singer plays Bombalurina in the big-screen version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, with Idris Elba as the villainous Macavity.
Taylor is taking her role so seriously she asked the crew to only call her Bombalurina.
To break the ice with her co-stars, including Rebel Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Sir Ian McKellen and James Corden, she sent them cat-themed goody bags plus stickers of her cats, Olivia and Meredith.
Taylor’s filming schedule means she can’t be in LA for Sunday night’s Grammys, where she is up for Best Pop Vocal album.
Instead, she will be supporting Joe at the Baftas.
She is expected to attend The Favourite’s private afterparty, but snub the red carpet and ceremony — to avoid any embarrassing run-in with her ex Tom Hiddleston.
Well, she wouldn’t want things to get catty.
Gaga on her 'alchemy of loss'
AWARDS superstar Lady Gaga has revealed how she got into the right mindset for her most emotional scene in A Star Is Born – by imagining that her younger sister Ali had died.
In the film she plays upcoming artist Ally, opposite Bradley Cooper as fading musician Jackson who ends up taking his own life.
In an exclusive chat, the pop star- turned-Oscar contender, who is up for Best Actress at the Baftas as well as five Grammys, tells me: “The scene where I destroyed the house, there was a strong sense of memory.
“I had to not just think and be as Ally mourning Jackson, but to imagine I’d lost someone in my family – it was my sister.
"You see from how I am in the movie, how much thinking that got to me.
"I created this alchemy of loss that I was feeling for my sister.
“It was a special scene I will never forget because I really believed, even though he was there, that he was gone, dead.
"It sounds messed up but, in the moment, it felt absolutely true.”
She’s more than earned a glass of bubbly.
Screen Tess
THE only trophy Strictly host Tess Daly has been anywhere near recently is the dance show’s coveted Glitter Ball.
Yet she was guest of honour at Friday’s Bafta Gala evening at London’s Savoy Hotel.
Tess, who wore a stunning strapless dress, turned up with husband Vernon Kay.
Other celebs at the event included Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson, Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston.
Expect more posh frocks and dapper suits at Sunday night’s Baftas hosted by Joanna Lumley at the Royal Albert Hall.
Kneesy does it, Zac
ZAC Efron, gracing the screen next as serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile, has landed himself in hospital after tearing a knee ligament doing extreme sports.
The actor shared a snap of him on the mend after surgery, writing: “I tore my ACL shredding the gnar.
"But all is good. I opted for surgery so I can come back stronger than ever.”
After playing Bundy, he’ll be relieved to have some enforced time off.
Adele to Cooke up Jen nuptials
SHE offered to officiate Amy Schumer’s wedding during a drunken night out with Jennifer Lawrence last year but backed out when sobriety hit the next morning.
Now superstar Adele, who got ordained to marry best pal Alan Carr and his hubby Paul Drayton in January 2018, is back to touting her services — and this time she means it.
Just days after it was revealed J-Law is engaged to art dealer Cooke Maroney, the singer has been on the phone offering to officiate at their wedding and organise the Hollywood star’s raucous hen party.
A source said: “Adele rang Jen to congratulate her on her engagement and said it went without saying that she would be happy to do the honours of marrying them.
“She’s already got the go-ahead to organise the hen do with Emma Stone, which they’ve dubbed a ‘bachelorette bash’ and will be anything but civilised.”
Reps for Jennifer confirmed her engagement to Cooke, who she has dated since early 2018, after she was spotted with a huge rock on her finger at French restaurant Raoul’s in New York last week.
The Oscar-winner has previously dated Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, actor Nicholas Hoult and director Darren Aronofsky.
I doubt they’ll make the guestlist.
Liam looks block in anger
AN Oasis reunion isn’t the only thing Liam Gallagher is blocking – now he’s stopping traffic in his old Hampstead neighbourhood.
He was there on Tuesday in his chauffeur-driven car, taking girlfriend Debbie Gwyther shopping.
A source said: “Cars were honking and drivers were getting out of their cars and yelling at Liam’s chauffeur who was blocking the traffic in the middle of the busy school run, but he wouldn’t budge.
“About ten minutes later, Liam and Debbie emerged from a shopping spree in Sweaty Betty and seemed completely oblivious to the chaos they’d caused – or were secretly enjoying it.
“Everyone knows Liam’s got beef with the residents there. People were raging.”
Liam, who now lives in Highgate, North London, once told how he had been heckled for years by fans when he lived on Hampstead High Street, comparing the abuse to like being “on a bad trip”.
He also admitted to throwing stones at Jamie Oliver’s window while demanding a bacon roll.
You really wouldn’t want him living next door . . .
Strictly Squirrel
WHAT goes on tour won’t stay on tour, thanks to The Sun’s Strictly Squirrel who is following the stars’ every move as they dance across the UK in their live shows.
Here’s our latest report on the celebs, dancers and judges’ backstage secrets.
- Axed-pro dancer Brendan Cole met up with his former Strictly Come Dancing co-stars on Friday night – taking wife Zoe and daughter Aurelia to watch one of the final shows in the live tour at Wembley’s SSE Arena. Pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova sorted out the tickets for him.
- Strictly dance couple Neil Jones and his wife Katya are considering renewing their wedding vows. Neil has clearly forgiven his missus for snogging her celebrity partner, comedian Seann Walsh, on the last series.
- Pro-dancer Graziano Di Prima was reunited with his stolen phone, thanks to two Glaswegian taxi drivers. They helped him track down the thief who had pinched it while the stars were on a night out last week. He gave the cabbies a photo and a tip to thank them for their help.
- After being forced to leave the Strictly tour cast hotels over their non-stop PDAs, Strictly lovebirds vlogger Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell were back with their cast members at the Mercure hotel in Nottingham – but stayed holed up in their room with Joe ordering a chicken burger to keep up his energy levels.
Mabel's warning
BRIT-nominated Mabel is taking inspiration from Ariana Grande’s heartbreak album Thank U, Next.
The daughter of Neneh Cherry, who’s up for Best Breakthrough at this month’s bash, has warned her former flames they’ll be forming the content for her debut album.
She said: “I’ll thank all my exes for their help in making the songs I come back with next year.”
Katy's pollen power
KATY PERRY let no material go to waste at an LA awards show on Friday night.
She paired her floral, thigh-high split Elie Saab dress with matching boots and cape to make her mark on the red carpet at the MusiCares Person of the Year bash, where country legend Dolly Parton was honoured.
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Dolly’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus – now Hemsworth following her wedding to actor Liam in December – was also there to pay special tribute before she takes to the stage at LA’s Staples Centre for the Grammy Awards, hosted by Alicia Keys.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with eight, followed by Drake with seven, while folk rocker Brandi Carlile is the most-nominated female artist with six.
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