Robbie Williams opens up on his Better Man biopic’s mental health mission

In a candid new interview, Robbie Williams shares why his Better Man biopic features graphic depictions of alcohol and drug abuse.

The bonkers biopic Better Man may show Robbie Williams up to monkey business but the Angels superstar is on a mission for the film to serve as a cautionary tale for the next generation of pop artists thrust into global spotlight.

As Williams prepares to swing in the New Year with a performance at the Sydney Opera House, he said the film’s underlying message calls out the lack of duty of care for young pop stars.

Created and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey, the creative mind behind The Greatest Showman, the film shows Williams’ harrowing descent to alcohol and drug abuse.

The pop star, who is cast as performing monkey in Better Man and narrates much of the film, said he had been overwhelmed by the film’s warm reception.

In an exclusive interview, Williams shares how he is in the “best mental shape” of his life but remains determined to continue his advocacy for better care for young artists.

Jonno Davies as Robbie Williams in Better Man. Picture: Supplied.

So how are you? This film is a lot and you’ve hit the promotional trail hard.

I’m existing on the fumes of this movie being greeted so warmly. And for something that is not an altruistic decision to make but very, very careerist, it’s having a therapeutic value. Worry not, I’m in the best mental shape that I’ve ever been in my life. I am in the most namaste way ever … I’m f...ing grateful.

Onto the film. The monkey, playing you, does a lot of cocaine. Was that a movie metaphor for addiction or a depiction of how bad it got for you?

I think it’s an actual representation of that hellish journey that you can get yourself locked into if you have a predisposition to impulses and addictions and using the wrong medications to medicate yourself. Nothing about it is glamorous and neither should it be in the movie.

Addicts, alcoholics have all been to hell. There it is up on the big screen for everybody to see. The funny thing about it is that I saw movies when I was growing up depicting the same sort of thing happening to the same sort of people. And you just think that won’t happen to me. But there it is.

Williams and director Michael Gracey have been on the promotional trail through Europe. Picture: Getty.

Do you think it could serve as a good PSA when we’re having these kind of discussions about the duty of care to artists.

Yeah, and I think progress has definitely been made. The discussion is at least on the table where it wasn’t on the table before and people have to take notice. When people are saying, ‘Hey, this is how it’s affecting me,’ people (should) take evasive action on behalf of their artists. And if they don’t, they should do, and if they don’t, they will be pilloried and never forgiven, and be the people that allowed that to happen.

Chappell Roan called out the abusive side of fame very quickly.

It was unbelievable, I loved it. She basically goes ‘Hey, weird shit’s happening, and this is not okay.’ And it’s not okay! There is so much stuff that happens you don’t give your consent to, and it’s unnatural, inhuman. ‘It comes with the territory’ and ‘This is the price of fame’, and that’s where the conversation ended in the 90s. Yeah, actually, the price of it is f...ing killing me, so f...ing sort it out.

Williams is on a mission to advocate for mental health care for musicians. Picture: Julian Broad / Supplied.

One of your signature songs Angels, gets an epic makeover in the film. It’s a great pop song yet when it was first released in 1997 off your debut solo album Life thru a Lens, it only reached No. 40 on the ARIA charts.

Listen, the song reached its destination no matter where it was in the charts. It wasn’t No. 1 in England too. But the story of that song exists outside itself, outside of me, and outside of its own success when it boils down to hard statistics.

Are the metrics measuring “success” in pop music broken?

It’s so niche (now). And if you don’t exist in these very niche markets and echo chambers we’ve separated ourselves into, you cease to exist completely. It’s a really interesting moment to be an entertainer and try and figure this out. Everybody doesn’t know what the f... they’re doing or how to do it. It’s the luck of the algorithm. My algorithm thinks I’m a menopausal gay Republican.

Williams and wife Ayda at the Golden Globes First-Time Nominee Celebratio in Beverly Hills. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Thanks for the headline. Your evidence?

I’m getting a load of menopausal remedies and exercises. And a lot of enthusiastic disco music mixed with Jimmy Dore (American comedian and conspiracy theorist) and right-leaning information.

How did you go writing Forbidden Road on a deadline for the film?

I sent several songs to put at the end of this film that Gracey was ‘no’ about. And I was like, ‘You’re f...ing wrong, Gracey.’ And then I saw the film, and I realised that what I sent was wrong, and at the end of the movie, you need a cuddle and you need to be told it’s alright, because as a viewer, you’ve been through a lot. And so it is musical Xanax.

One metric you’d be pretty pleased to take to the bank is the new single Forbidden Road from Better Man has a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.

Look, you want to be invited to the party, be part of the conversation, yeah, it’s incredibly important. My wife is over the moon, she gets to buy a frock. And I’m over the moon that I get to walk amongst the glitterati in North America. It’ll be fun.

Better Man has scored six nominations, the most of any film, for the 2025 AACTA Awards. Might we be seeing you on a red carpet in Australia?

I really hope so. I’ve just looked over at my manager who’s gone (thumbs up).

You may be amused to know that at a preview screening in Sydney, they played a pre-recorded video introduction from you and Gracey where you basically said “Hello Melbourne.”

It said Melbourne in Sydney? Stupid f...ers! That’s not my fault. I once said on stage in Melbourne, “Good evening, Sydney.’ And then I said, “I know that you’ve just heard me say, Good evening Sydney. And I’d like you to know that my friend Sydney is in the audience this evening, and it’s his birthday. Can you please sing happy birthday to my friend, Sydney?

George Michael did the same thing, and he said that his sound guy’s name was Sydney.

Okay, great minds think alike.

Better Man is now screening in cinemas and the soundtrack is available on all streaming services.

Originally published as Robbie Williams opens up on his Better Man biopic’s mental health mission