Kate Moss was notably absent from the premiere of her new biopic Moss & Freud at Selfridges in London on Tuesday, allowing actress Ellie Bamber to steal the show. The film delves into the unlikely friendship between the supermodel and artist Lucian Freud, who together created the iconic Naked Portrait 2002.
Film's Controversial Content
The biopic depicts Moss's doppelgänger engaging in drug use, leading a half-dressed chauffeur into a raunchy London sex club, and being involved in a near-fatal car accident. Lucian Freud is portrayed by Derek Jacobi, while the real-life Kate Moss served as an executive producer, with Ellie Bamber playing her role.
Kate's Absence and Support
Despite her involvement in the film, Moss skipped the premiere celebrations ahead of its release this Friday. Appearing on The One Show earlier in the day alongside Jacobi, Bamber discussed the challenges of portraying Moss. She stated, "It was really frightening and I really felt like I had a responsibility to do her justice. The voice was something I really spent a lot of time stewing over. I think it was something that was really important to me. Her laugh in particular was kind of a gateway into her."
Bamber worked with a vocal coach to perfect Moss's voice and mannerisms. Moss also contributed clothes from her personal wardrobe for the film, including the iconic blue gown she wore to her 30th birthday party. Bamber added, "I am pretty clumsy. I was terrified. I had James Brown, a friend of Kate's for a long time, who did all the costumes. That dress is so precious. It is fashion history."
Insights into Kate's Past
Moss was famously dubbed 'Cocaine Kate' after being photographed snorting cocaine in 2005, but she has since adopted a clean-living lifestyle. Sources suggest that her unwavering support for the film is the closest she has come to acknowledging her wild past. "She has supported the creation of the movie from day one and continued to have input and assist the team behind it. Which means that Kate has seen the contents and not only given the nod to them remaining, but continues to back the producers. It's the closest she has got to confessing to some of the racier parts of her life," a source told The Sun. However, they noted that she can argue the drama is only based on a true story, not necessarily the whole truth. Daily Mail has contacted Moss's representatives for comment.
Trailer Highlights
The film's trailer showcases the extremes of Moss and Freud's relationship, with arguments over her commitment to the painting project and moments of joy. In one scene, Freud says to Moss, "Could you imagine anything more beautiful? I think a painting - but do you have time? I'm quite aware of what a busy life you must lead." She responds, "Lucien, I like the idea of truth." The artwork, a nude portrait of a then-28-year-old Moss while pregnant with her daughter Lila, was painted by the then-80-year-old Freud, 52 years her senior. The painting later sold for £3.9 million at auction in 2005.
The trailer also depicts a recreation of Moss's legendary 30th birthday party at Claridge's hotel in 2004, themed after F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned. Freud demands commitment from Moss, saying, "If I were to paint you I need absolute commitment," and later becomes enraged when she misses sessions, shouting, "You are late, do you treat all of this as some kind of game? Three evenings a week is all I ask and to be on time." Moss retorts by pointing to images of herself in magazines, saying, "This, this, some of them are long-term relationships!" She muses, "The painter must think of everything he sees as being entirely for own use and pleasure. Is that what I'm here for? To be used by you."
Legacy of Moss and Freud
The film explores Freud's life and art, focusing on how Moss became his beloved muse. Moss, who rose to fame in the early 1990s alongside Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Linda Evangelista, described Freud as "the most interesting person" she had ever met. Freud, born in Berlin in 1922, was a renowned figurative painter known for his portraits of friends, family, and lovers. He passed away at age 88 in 2011. Moss & Freud initially received mixed reviews upon its release in October but will be available to a wider audience next month.
