Hollywood actor Harris Dickinson, widely speculated to be on the shortlist for the next James Bond, found himself in an unexpected moment of alarm during Charli XCX's Glastonbury performance last year. The 'Babygirl' star was among the VIP guests backstage when a planned pyrotechnic display involving a burning fluorescent green backdrop caused a flurry of activity from fire services, leading to genuine concern for safety.
The incident occurred during Charli XCX's 'Brat' show on The Other Stage at Glastonbury 2023. The Essex-born singer concluded her set with the dramatic burning of her stage backdrop, a moment intended to be a spectacular finale. However, the visual effect, coupled with the presence of numerous firemen attempting to manage the flames, created a tense atmosphere on the wings of the stage where Dickinson and his girlfriend, singer Rose Gray, were standing.
Charli XCX recounted the event on Greg James's Radio 1 breakfast show on Friday, explaining that Dickinson and Gray approached her after the show. "They were both like, 'We thought we were going to die because you were burning the stage down and then there were a lot of frantic firemen running around, trying to put it out. We didn't know if it had gone wrong'," Charli XCX stated, adding that she apologised for the scare, assuring them it was all under control.
Dickinson is one of several actors rumoured to be in contention for the iconic 007 role, alongside figures such as Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, and Theo James. His recent experience at Glastonbury adds an unusual anecdote to his profile as he navigates the intense scrutiny surrounding the potential casting for one of cinema's most coveted parts.
Meanwhile, Charli XCX has moved into a new musical era following her impactful 'Brat' album. She has been addressing fan reactions to her new single, 'Rock Music', where she sings, "I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music," despite the track not conforming to traditional rock genre definitions. The artist recently clarified in an interview with Rolling Stone that she has never explicitly stated she is making a 'rock' album, and views genre in a fluid, non-binary way, focusing instead on her collaborative process with producers AG Cook and Finn Keane.
The singer also opened up about her mental well-being, admitting to being in "the worst place mentally" she has experienced and spending more time offline for her mental health, a notable shift for an artist previously known for her online presence. Charli XCX's seventh album, 'Music, Fashion, Film', is scheduled for release on 24 July.