Phantom Contender Charlotte Church Dumped for Skinnies [Teen Too Fat for 'Phantom of Opera' Film]

Ananova News Wire and Moviehole.Net Wire ^ | May 8, 2003 | wire report staff

[ewing]

Remeber the rumor a few weeks ago that singer Charlotte Church was up for a role in the new film version of the 'Phantom of the Opera?'

Well, now the truth is starting to come out why we never heard anything more about it. Seems Miss Church was too chunky -at least that's what the not so good looking director Joel Schumacher and his production team told her.

The 17 her old 'Voice of an Angel' told In Style Magazine that she was constantly losing roles because of her size. 'I won't fit into their ideals because I think it's really wrong. I think if I just fit in with everything that everybody told me to do I would have been in rehab by age 12.'

She already has made one film 'I'll Be There' which she says is cute. But she pointed out that she had refused the 'Phantom' film, which is to star Antonio Banderas in the lead, and is based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

'They said even if I wanted to audition, I've got to lose a few pounds. So I said 'Bugger off then. I get it all the time, calls from management in Los Angeles saying, 'We're not getting adverts and major film parts because you're too big.'

[ewing]

Good for her, she seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

Ugh, and we get Katie Holmes instead?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ahem ? Pardon me ?

[Wolfie]

You mean looks trump talent in Hollywood? Say it ain't so!

[Lil'freeper]

I'm a fan of Charlotte's and this makes me boiling mad. She is a beautiful girl! Wholesome and real. So she's going to be full figured- the girl can sing.

[ewing]

Charlotte Church was born to play 'Christine' in Phantom of the Opera, (maybe she is a little young) but I can't think of anyone in the world better for the role...

[ewing]

I'm a big fan of Katie, but she is nowhere near the singer of a professional -no matter how hard she works with a vocal coach.

[ewing]

She is a looker, but do you really want to hear her sing opera for 2 hours?

[Wolfie]

She could sing the telephone book and it would be fine by me.

[from occupied ga]

Is this the same Charlotte Church who said something to the effect that poeple needed to get over the 9/11 terrorst attacks and pay more attention to her? I forget her exact comments since she is so forgettable, but it was some incredibly selfish and stupid comment that she made in relation to the terrorist attacks.

[yarddog]

Several years ago while driving through rural Georgia, I happened to experience a trivial but interesting coincidence.

I was listening to the radio and they had Madonna singing "Don't cry for me Argentina". I like the song and thought in sounded good.

After the song ended I happened to change to another station and as luck would have it, they had the same song on, but this time being sung by a real singer. I think it was Sarah Brightman but am not certain. Anyway the difference was astounding.

[randog]

Yes, I seem to remember some anti-war statement she said....it struck me at the time as a "Dixie Chix" stunt, which makes me question the reason she's being turned down for parts.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Ref post #9.

Yes. She was flying in from England or somewhere to do a show, and it was cancelled. The little brat couldn't understand why they cancelled HER show just because the WTC had just collapsed and over 3000 people were killed. She was really angry at this inconvenience to her. She took it personally. I can’t even watch her on TV anymore.

[Constitution Day]

Here are the original threads on her statement:

11/12/2001: Charlotte Church interview: When the angel lost her innocence

12/03/2001: A Statement from Charlotte Church

[from occupied ga]

Thanks for helping me remember. I remember my 87 year old mother threw out the Church CDs that she had because she had the same feelings about her that you did. Couldn't stand to listen to her knowing what a selfish little b!tch she is. I didn't throw any out because I didn't have any to start with.

[sarasota]

Sarah Brightman has the voice of an angel. She outsings anyone I've ever heard. Anyone. She has range and power and knows how to use it. The original voice in Phantom--the musical was written for her, I believe.

[ewing]

I can see there is no convincing, you should have seen Katie on SNL!

[ewing]

[strela]

She was flying in from England or somewhere to do a show, and it was cancelled. The little brat couldn't understand why they cancelled HER show just because the WTC had just collapsed and over 3000 people were killed.

I remember the rant well. Unfortunately.

Some things you can simply chalk up to immaturity and inexperience, but that one couldn't be excused. The slots in my CD player reserved for classical vocal now hold Kathleen Battle CDs.

[Havoc]

Oh, boy. Yet another telling of Phantom of the Opera. By the time I'm 80 I'll be able to watch a version a day for a year at this rate and not see them all.

[Tribune7]

Gee, it almost seems like the decision makers in Hollywood and the fashion industry don't like women who look like women. :-)