Tom Holland has revealed that his 2017 performance of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' on Lip Sync Battle still earns him more compliments than any of his acting work. The Spider-Man star discussed the routine on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, noting that the clip remains a fan favourite nearly a decade later.
The performance began with Holland dancing to 'Singin' in the Rain' in a grey suit before transitioning to 'Umbrella' under artificial rain. He then stripped down to fishnet tights, black shorts, a black vest, red lipstick and a short dark wig for a choreographed routine. 'I get more compliments for that dance than any piece of work I have ever done,' Holland told Poehler.
Poehler praised Holland for appearing comfortable with his feminine side, referencing his early dance training. Holland began dancing as a child and later performed in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical. He recalled that during dress rehearsal, a costume designer suggested cutting the shorts shorter, but he declined, saying, 'No. I'm doing enough. This is still years ahead of its time.'
Holland admitted he was nervous about the live performance but didn't anticipate the audience's reaction. He described the energy in the room deflating during the initial 'Singin' in the Rain' segment, but he knew the crowd would go wild when he removed the suit. The YouTube clip has since amassed over 172.5 million views.
In 2021, Holland shared that his father, comedian Dominic Holland, had tried to stop the performance, fearing it would harm his career. Holland explained that his father advised him to 'get famous as slowly as possible,' but he ultimately felt the performance was a success and a great boost for his career.
