He’s a British rock icon, who has enjoyed decades dominating stadiums around the world when performing with his band The Rolling Stones.
But Mick Jagger, 77, has admitted that he found it particularly challenging to prepare for his role as a scheming art dealer in his thriller The Burnt Orange Heresy, his first acting project since 2001’s The Man From Elysian Fields.
Conceding that he had to ‘actually do homework’ for his role, he is quoted by The Mirror as saying: ‘I hadn’t acted in so long. I’d forgotten how to do this, how to create this different persona.’
Challenge: Mick Jagger has admitted that he found it particularly challenging to prepare for his role as a scheming art dealer in his thriller The Burnt Orange Heresy
The star has also revealed that he hasn’t seen his Rolling Stones bandmates – Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts – since the COVID-19 lockdown started.
And Mick revealed that the break in being together as prevented the rockers from making new potential hits, telling Apple Music: ‘The Stones were in the studio and we got some tracks that we hadn’t finished.’
For his role in The Burnt Orange Heresy, the star transformed into a scheming art dealer, who masterminded a shady plot to steal a reclusive artist’s work by enlisting the help of a critic.
Forgotten: He is quoted by The Mirror as saying, ‘I hadn’t acted in so long. I’d forgotten how to do this, how to create this different persona.’ Pictured at the film’s Venice photocall in 2019
Mick, who plays Joseph Cassidy, was seen exuding sophistication as he lounged at his Lake Como estate while wearing a dapper cream suit and patterned blue shirt.
In other scenes, he put on a suave display at a glitzy art event and chatted to critic James Figueras (Claes Bang), who he’s asked to steal a painting for him.
Mick also showed channelled the character’s shady side at the end of the short clip as he held James’ face and grinned while they discussed ‘the truth’.
Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi, the film is set in present-day Italy and follows art critic James who embarks on a romance with Berenice Hollis (Debecki).
Talent: The suave rockstar starred alongside Dracula actor Claes Bang in the flick, which was released in America on March 6 (pictured in December)
The two lovers travel to the Lake Como estate of by art collector and gallery owner Joseph (Mick), who reveals he is the patron of Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland), a recluse who lives on the edge of his estate and is branded the ‘J.D. Salinger of art.’
Cassidy requests that James steal one of Debney’s pieces from his art studio, and as the couple spend more and more time with the artistic legend, they discover all is not as it seems.
Scenes from the trailer show paintings being covered up with white sheets and Debney going for a walk arm in arm with Berenice.
Scheming: Mick’s character enlists the help of an art critic to help steal a painting
Suave: The singer looked sensational in a cream suit and patterned blue shirt in one scene
Following its Venice premiere in September the film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and opened in the US on March 6.
It’s reported that Mick filmed his scenes prior to his heart operation last April, which saw him out of action for several months.
Speaking about his role at the Venice Film Festival, Mick said: ‘Acting and singing on stage is all performing, it’s just different kinds of performing.
‘One is live and one isn’t. It’s the smallest role in the film but it’s an important part.’
Talent: Donald Sutherland plays Jerome Debney, a recluse who is branded the ‘J.D. Salinger of art’ (also pictured is Berenice Hollis, played by The Great Gatsby star Elizabeth Debicki)
The role also marks Mick’s return to acting, after first earning attention for his roles in the 1970s.
Among his most memorable is Ned Kelly in 1970, which sees him play the real-life Australian Bushranger who is embroiled in the world of crime and is eventually caught during the Siege of Glenrowan and hanged at the age of 25.
He also appeared in Performance during the same year, as a reclusive rock star who ends up housing an East London gang member, played by James Fox.
The film is considered groundbreaking for the decade through its portrayal of nudity and graphic violence.
Almost here: The film was released on March 6 in the US (Mick is pictured at the movie’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September)