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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears Talks ‘Pillion' Acting Debut & 'Shocking' NSFW Sex Scene With Alexander Skarsgård: 'My Jaw Was On The Floor'
SPOILER ALERT:Pillion. As Jake Shears was recently between stops in Glasgow and Bournemouth on a UK/Ireland arena tour, moviegoers were watching his titillating onscreen debut in the South of France. More from Deadline 'Pillion's Alexander Skarsgård And Harry Melling On Working With Intimacy Coordinator For 'Kinky Gay Bikers' Movie: 'It Got Messy' – Cannes Studio 'Pillion' Review: Alexander Skarsgård Is Dom For The Holidays & Harry Melling Is Hopelessly Devoted In Steamy BDSM Romance — Cannes Film Festival As Nigerian Cinema Goes From Strength To Strength, Ramsey Nouah & Rita Dominic Return For AfroCannes Screener '77: The Festac Conspiracy' Deadline caught up with the Scissor Sisters frontman following the Cannes premiere of Pillion, writer-director Harry Lighton's feature debut that sets a heartbreaking love story within a queer BDSM biker gang, featuring a supporting performance from Shears as sexual submissive Kevin. 'I'm wiped, but I'm happy,' said Shears over Zoom from his UK home, one day after wrapping up the tour that reunited the band after a 13-year hiatus. Meanwhile, Scissor Sisters is preparing to embark on The Tits Out Tour on July 1 in support of co-headliner Kesha's album Period. After co-founding the pop rock group 25 years ago and releasing solo music during the hiatus, Shears made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots back in 2017 and recently played the Emcee in the West End's revival of Cabaret in 2023, paving the way for his onscreen acting career. But nothing could prepare him for the NSFW nature of his first film role, which culminates in a picnic tabletop orgy scene with Alexander Skarsgård's Ray, the elusive dom and romantic opposite of Harry Melling's timid sub, Colin. Although Lighton has teased more explicit shots were left on the cutting-room floor, audiences got an eyeful and Shears got a mouthful with Ray's pierced prosthetic phallus. 'Well, my jaw was kind of on the floor, reading it,' said Shears of the scene. 'I sort of couldn't believe it, but it was really exciting for me when I was reading the script. It's a movie about sex and sexual dynamics and dynamics of love. When I read it, I was really expecting it to be something dark, and what I was so pleasantly surprised by is the warmth and the humor that's in the movie. And to me, that sort of blended with the more explicit stuff in the film. I loved that combination when I was reading it. And when I read the script for the first time, it really made me smile, it made me sad, it's heartbreaking. It's got all of these different feelings in it, and it just was not what I expected. And when I read the orgy scene in the script, I was just like, 'Oh my God.'' Although Shears' acting debut is quite the unconventional role, he takes every inch of it like a champ (pun fully intended). Explicit sex scenes and piercings aside, the Grammy-nominated artist seamlessly loses himself in the film's tense relationship dynamics while shedding light on the BDSM culture captured in the source material, Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel Box Hill. 'All the guys in the movie are the real deal,' he noted of the film's biker gang. 'So I was reading The Leatherman's Handbook and all the sort of training and processes and the sort of formalities that are involved. … And I'm pretty well-versed in faggotry [laughs] and a lot of different things in the queer world, but other than a moment when I was about 19 years old, I hadn't really had any experiences in this world, so it was interesting to learn about it and be with all the guys.' Ahead of Pillion's world premiere at Cannes on May 18, which earned an eight-minute ovation and the Un Certain Regard Best Screenplay for Lighton (as well as the Palm Dog for canine supporting actor Hippo), the film was acquired by A24 for US distribution rights in October. Read on about Jake Shears' experience making his acting debut in Pillion, as well as his sex scene with Skarsgård and whether his co-star's piercing was in the script. DEADLINE: Pillion JAKE SHEARS: I met this woman named Kahleen Crawford, who was the casting director for it, and she had seen me in Cabaret. We ended up meeting at a house party over Christmas a couple years ago and became acquainted and friends, and she told me about this movie. And then, when I finished Cabaret — I'm trying to get the timeline right — but I was at my place in New Orleans, and she called me and she's like, 'Are you sitting down? I really think that this would be a great thing for you to do' that would be not biting off more than I could chew, I think, even though I still feel like I bit off more than I could chew. DEADLINE: SHEARS: No pun intended. But then I talked with Harry [Lighton], we had a great conversation. That's sort of how I got into the project. I've been acquainted with Skarsgård from years before, through friends and whatnot, so I was really stoked to see him. I was excited, it was really interesting. I feel like it was definitely an education for me in a lot of different ways. DEADLINE: SHEARS: Yeah, all the guys in the movie are the real deal. So I was reading The Leatherman's Handbook and all the sort of training and processes and the sort of formalities that are involved. I mean, it's a lot of stuff. You could have three college courses on it. It was a bit overwhelming, but I feel like I got a much better picture of what that scene is, that I didn't know before. And I'm pretty well-versed in faggotry [laughs] and a lot of different things in the queer world, but other than a moment when I was about 19 years old, I hadn't really had any experiences in this world, so it was interesting to learn about it and be with all the guys. So it was both warm — the experience — and it was also incredibly intimidating in certain ways, just for me personally, not that anything, not that anybody specifically made it that way. It was intimidating for me for for a lot of different reasons, the whole experience. DEADLINE: Cabaret SHEARS: No, I mean, the intimacy coordination was so thorough and so good. It really was like, I found that stuff to be the easiest. The sex in the movie to me, that wasn't sort of what was intimidating to me. The process of filming and being in a film is what I found to be really jarring, and I learned a lot from it. I knew it would be vastly different from theater, and I knew it would be vastly different from performing on stage and and singing music. It really was like a different ballgame. And I'm a big film head; all the nonfiction I read is basically film history, and that's what I consume. I watch a lot of movies, I watch a lot of old movies, it's just a deep passion of mine. So it's really fascinating for me to be on the other side of it a bit and actually seeing how a machine like that works, and being in front of the camera in that sort of machine. I didn't feel like — and this was my own insecurities, and this isn't about the sex in the movie — but I just didn't feel like I had the tools for it. Just in general, just the process of being in a movie, I was like, 'I think I'm in like over my head.' But I also at the same time, I've always really pushed myself to do things that are new, that are not necessarily something that's comfortable for you, and by comfortable I just mean, as far as your skill set. There's so many facets to this process, and it made me have a whole other kind of respect for film actors. It really did, it's just so strange how it all works and how people turn it on, And to the film and TV actors I know, it's just sort of given me like a much deeper insight into what they do. But it was exciting for me to be a part of a project that I thought was something really different and interesting, and something that I could really be proud of being in, and being a part of, that was really exciting for me in that way. So there was a whole bunch of feelings that I was just going through internally. Doing this movie, I love the people I was doing it with. Harry was amazing, both Harrys were awesome. I had a a couple scenes with Harry Melling, one of them made it into the movie. He really was just very sweet with me about my sort of insecurities or fears about doing it. And he really, I think, had quite a bit of patience with me that I really, really appreciated, that made me comfortable. And Skarsgård is somebody that I've already felt really comfortable with, and just somebody who is really nice to have a laugh with. They're both wonderful human beings. DEADLINE: SHEARS: 'Cause that's not me, you know what I mean? It was really not in my nature, so just that scene, I had to work on really, really hard to find the spot, and I hope it works. Does it work? DEADLINE: SHEARS: I feel like I just had to turn part of my brain off and turn part of myself off, and I found it incredibly challenging. You just walk away from that, and you just don't know if it works, And that's the thing about films that really blows my mind is that, anybody could make a movie and you can think it's the most incredible thing in the world, and you think that you've done the most amazing job in the world, but unless all the parts are operating together, you could really end up in something that stinks. Which is different from theater because in theater, you've got an audience there, you can kind of feel that out a little bit better. I feel like with film, I just don't see how you can see the forest for the trees. It really is some real faith. DEADLINE: SHEARS: Well, my jaw was kind of on the floor, reading it. I sort of couldn't believe it, but it was really exciting for me when I was reading the script. It's a movie about sex and sexual dynamics= and dynamics of love. When I read it, I was really expecting it to be something dark, and what I was so pleasantly surprised by is the warmth and the humor that's in the movie. And to me, that sort of blended with the more explicit stuff in the film. I loved that combination when I was reading it. And when I read the script for the first time, it really made me smile, it made me sad. It's heartbreaking. It's got all of these different feelings in it, and it just was not what I expected. And when I read the orgy scene in the script, I was just like, 'Oh my God.' DEADLINE: SHEARS: [Laughs] No, and I didn't know about the Prince Albert until the moment it was in front of my face. It might have been in the script, but it wasn't something that I even thought about until It was right in front of me, and it was so realistic that in the moment, when it's happening and being filmed, it was kind of shocking in a really great way. DEADLINE: SHEARS: It was a real reaction! [Laughs] DEADLINE: SHEARS: Yes, I gotta say that prosthetic was really realistic. To me, in real life, it felt very real. Literally and figuratively. DEADLINE: SHEARS: No, but the costumes were fantastic. I love what I got to wear in the movie. I just loved the stuff that was made for me. There was that really cool apron thing that was made for me. I just loved what I got to wear. I thought the costumes were amazing. And I felt sexy. It's funny because I'd gotten out of Cabaret in like really good shape, and as the summer had gone on, I felt like I was getting more and more out of shape. And I was like, 'I just don't know, I'm not feeling like I'm fully, like, snatched. And Harry [Lighton] was like, 'Please don't. I want you to have a more natural body in this.' And so I sort of had to get comfortable with that too, And I did feel sexy when we were doing it, it felt sexy to me. I wasn't too worried about that, even though I don't feel like I was my normal stage shape or whatever, I still felt good doing it. And I loved my hairdo. They gave me a great haircut. But the experience was a real eye-opener for me. It was just one of those things in my life that I'm really happy that I just took a chance with myself and did. I just think doing things that are out of your wheelhouse can be really good for you. And I think it was really good for me in that way, and I'm very thankful to everybody on the project for being as warm and patient and understanding and fun as they were. DEADLINE: SHEARS: My world has been Scissors, and it's gonna really be for the rest of the summer. We just put loads of work into — we just did an arena tour in the UK. And I think it was the best show we've ever made. It really was a dream show, and we put so much work into it. And it was the longest show we did, it was like a two-hour, it was a big show. So I'm just really happy with what we accomplished with that. We're touring, we're doing the Tits Out Tour — Kesha, Scissor Sisters, all summer basically, finishing it off with a show with the Pet Shop Boys in mid-August. And then I'm gonna take a little bit of a break. But it just doesn't stop. You know what I mean? I work a lot. I would love to definitely do more theater, and I'd be interested in doing more film, but I still feel like I've got a lot to learn in that regard. And I think I definitely need to keep building a toolkit for it, and I feel like I feel like I got a couple tools with this movie. But I definitely think it would be amazing to keep building that toolkit with the right stuff cause I really did enjoy the process. And I'm so happy that people seem to really love the movie. I'm just really happy how it already sort of feels sort of beloved in a way. So I'm really about that, because like I said before, you just never know what you're making, when you're making it. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Belfast Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Scissor Sisters frontman ready to let his hair down in Belfast: ‘I was put on this earth to do this'
Singer Jake Shears looks back on his first NI show ahead of 20th anniversary gig at the SSE Arena 'Does it still pack on the pounds?' asks Jake Shears with a smile when I ask him if he drinks Guinness. The 46-year-old Scissor Sisters singer is 'keeping off the booze right now, trying to get into stage shape' ahead of his band's first gig in Belfast in 13 years.
Metro
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Iconic actor leaves fans 'in tears' after appearance at Scissor Sisters gig
Sir Ian McKellen unleashed scenes of 'absolute mayhem' at The O2 Arena in London as he took to the stage with Scissor Sisters on Friday. The thespian, 86, wowed fans with a surprise reading of his dramatic monologue from the song Invisible Light. Released in 2010 as a single from their third studio album, Night Work, the song features a magnetic spoken-word performance by the Lord of The Rings and X-Men star. 'Babylon. Where bricks of mortar diamonds tower,' the actor intones in the original track. 'Sailors lust and swagger, blazing in woman's beam.' With the band – which now consists of consists of Jake Shears, Babydaddy, Del Marquis and Randy Real – currently touring arenas in the UK and Ireland, Sir Ian joined in for a reprise of his lines. Wearing a yellow tie over a cream-coloured suit, the icon of stage and screen had fans weeping as his voice echoed throughout the arena. Sir Ian didn't come alone either – and was joined by British musician Self Esteem, who assisted the band in a rendition of their 2004 hit Take Your Mama. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. As per his 2010 performance, the actor began with a booming declaration of the word 'Babylon!' He appeared to relish every word as he spoke of 'painted whores,' 'sexual gladiators' and 'fiercely old party children' – finishing with a flourish as colourful disco lights bombarded the arena. Posting to their Instagram page in the aftermath, Scissor Sisters wrote: 'The big one. It was always going to be special coming back to our spiritual home – made even more so by having a ton of family in the house. 'From all three Scissor Mamas (Nancy, Freida and Judy) to Scissor brothers, sisters, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and a whole lot of chosen family who have been there on this journey since day 1. 'It was a dream come true to have @ianmckellen reprise his legendary Invisible Light monologue and for @selfesteemselfesteem to come bounce around for Take Your Mama. Pure magic, thank you.' Those who were there shared their joy at Sir Ian's surprise performance on social media afterwards. 'Absolute mayhem as Sir Ian McKellen does a dramatic reading of his lines from Invisible Light, one of my favourite scissor sisters songs of all time. Cried a little, just so blessed to see this,' wrote lordisthisfree on X. 'A concert cameo like no other ✂️ Sir Ian McKellen has blown The O2 roof off at The Scissor Sisters' 21st anniversary tour,' said JoshuaGarfield. 'Mary, Comfortably Numb and Ian McKellen on stage: scissor sisters can't be topped quite honestly,' said hannahtomes_. 'It was utterly fantastic. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. So many highlights,' wrote mattholly_2 on Instagram. 'We were there. It was epic. It was joyous. It was gay. It was loud. It was filth. We were at your last gig at the Roundhouse in Camden in 2012 and was waiting for this. I loved every second,' said dvd.a.g. The band announced news of their reunion tour in October last year, sending fans of the 00s glam rock group into overdrive. However, many were disappointed by one notable absence – co-vocalist Ana Matronic. As news broke of their reunion, the band confirmed that Ana wouldn't be joining them for their 21st anniversary tour. A statement from the 50-year-old singer read: 'People familiar with my story and career arc will know that in the heart of this Showgirl lies a giant Nerd. 'In the past decade, my nerd self has taken the wheel and is now driving my career.' She went on to explain how her schedule was already filled up with the history podcast she hosts, meaning that she would be unable to take time off for the shows. However, there was no animosity between Ana and her former bandmates, with multi-instrumentalist Babydaddy revealing he felt 'proud' of her for saying no. More Trending 'I don't think it's really for us to question or push her to do something that doesn't feel right,' he continued. 'We should all be doing this for the right reasons and with the right feeling in mind. 'So I'm actually really proud of her for being able to say, 'I don't think this is right for me'.' Meanwhile, co-lead vocalist Jake said: 'Her spirit is gonna be with us. Nothing stays the same. One of my mottos is 'You can never go home again' and I think there's so much truth to that. 'It will be a different thing, and that's very exciting to me, even though there's a sadness to it as well. But it's going to be exciting to see how it changes.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: EastEnders confirms unexpected Kat and Alfie twist that will delight 00s TV fans MORE: 'Gigs don't have to cost £400 – the next Taylor Swift could be down the road' MORE: Music industry pays tribute to agent Dave Shapiro after death in San Diego plane crash
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Ian McKellen delights fans with surprise appearance at Scissor Sisters gig
Ian McKellen delighted fans by making a surprise appearance at the Scissor Sisters reunion gig at London's O2 on Friday evening. The US pop group, who celebrated the 20-year anniversary of their debut album last year, have recently reformed and are playing a series of shows across the UK and are also due to play the SSE Arena in Belfast and 3Arena in Dublin. Fans at the O2 screamed and cheered as the 85-year-old actor took to the stage to recite spoken-word vocals for the band's hit song Invisible Light. During his brief appearance the Lord Of The Rings star read out the monologue he performed on the recorded version of the track which was first released in 2010. Fans at the concert took to social media to share their delight at McKellen's cameo. One fan wrote on X: "Absolute mayhem as Sir Ian McKellen does a dramatic reading of his lines from Invisible Light, one of my favourite scissor sisters songs of all time. "Cried a little, just so blessed to see this." Another wrote: "A concert cameo like no other. "Sir Ian McKellen has blown The O2 roof off at The Scissor Sisters' 21st anniversary tour." Another surprise appearance was from Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known better by her stage name Self Esteem, who joined the group for a rendition of Take Your Mama. The group - including lead singer Jake Shears, multi-instrumentalist Babydaddy and guitarist Del Marquis - are performing their first live shows in 12 years. Singer Ana Matronic decided not to join the tour as she has "other projects she is focusing on right now", according to a statement from the group. Scissor Sisters rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a colourful style blending multiple genres and pioneering LGBT+ representation in mainstream music.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic actor causes 'absolute mayhem' and leaves fans in tears as he makes surprise appearance at Scissors Sisters' gig at London's O2
Sir caused 'absolute mayhem' after he made a surprise appearance at the Scissors Sisters' gig at London's O2 on Friday. The iconic actor, 85, sent the crowd wild as he took to the stage to dramatically recite his monologue from the US band's 2010 track Invisible Light. Sir Ian looked dapper in a cream suit and yellow shirt with matching scarf during the band's comeback tour celebrating 20 years since their debut album. Taking to X fans gushed: 'Absolute mayhem as Sir Ian McKellen does a dramatic reading of his lines from Invisible Light, one of my favourite scissor sisters songs of all time. Cried a little, just so blessed to see this'. 'Sir Ian McKellen joins Scissor Sisters for Invisible Light onstage at The O2. Iconic tbh': 'Scissor Sisters just brought out Ian Mckellen?!': A concert cameo like no other Sir Ian McKellen has blown The O2 roof off at The Scissor Sisters' 21st anniversary tour'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sir Ian McKellen caused 'absolute mayhem' after he made a surprise appearance at the Scissors Sisters' gig at London's O2 on Friday It comes after Nicola Roberts sent fans into frenzy when she made an unexpected appearance on stage with the band in Manchester on Thursday. The Girls Aloud singer, 39, looked ravishing in a fuchsia draped maxi gown as she stunned the crowd while performing alongside the legendary noughties band. The English star took to her Instagram page with a dazzling carousel of snaps from the vibrant gig, saying it was a 'honour' performing with them and branding it 'a stunning dream'. Nicola looked on cloud nine on stage of the Co-Op Live Arena, showing off a glimpse of her toned legs as the glamorous maxi dress featured a racy thigh-high split. She added a belt while completing the show-stopping outfit with metallic silver knee boots. Paying a huge tribute to the iconic pop group on their 20th anniversary reunion tour, Nicola performed bangers Take Your Mama and Freedom with them. The Biology singer captioned her recent Instagram post: 'I felt like dancing Thank you for asking me to perform with you last night in Manchester. 'Such an honour. I've known the boys for a long time and so to get to sing with them was a stunning dream even though my little legs could barely keep up with you Jakey. 'The show is incredible. Congrats to the whole team for such a fantastic show and tour. What a night it was ❤️.' Scissors Sisters' iconic performance with Nicola comes a few months after the noughties band made headlines after being announced to perform at Glastonbury Festival this year. The pop band marked the 20th anniversary of their debut album Scissor Sisters, one of the UK's 40 best-sellers of all time, last year. In October, they delighted fans when they announced they would be heading back out on tour together - albeit now as a three piece. Their reunion announcement came with a catch as it was revealed Ana Matronix, Paddy Boom and Randy Real would not be joining former bandmates Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis. Earlier in March, it was revealed they will be adding Glastonbury to their list of dates as they will be performing on Saturday June 28 at Worthy Far m. Scissor Sisters looked unrecognisable compared to their earlier days in a promo shot for their Glastonbury slot, with Jake swapping his ginger locks for a platinum blonde 'do. 'Glastonbury… where it all began,' they captioned their announcement. 'Your Scissters are comin' home—see you in the fields.' Fans were ecstatic to hear the band would be performing at the festival - however those without tickets held out hope for resale. They commented on Instagram: 'Of course on a year when I didn't get tickets... Resale it is...,'; 'I don't have a ticket, please resale day be kind,'; 'Will be there!!!! ❤️,'; 'A MOMENT,'; 'omg I need to be there ❤️❤️❤️,'; 'WOW!!!! now this is exciting!!!!!' Scissor Sisters will play the Saturday which is set to be headlined by Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts with performances from Charlie XCX, RAYE and Doechii. The band plan to perform every single track from the album on their upcoming tour, as well as highlights from their three subsequent albums, 2006's Ta-Dah, 2010's Night Work and 2012's Magic Hour.
