Spitering Image Sharleen's stunning change into Elvis
from The Daily Record, December 1, 2000

FORGET Texas, this time Sharleen Spiteri has gone to Memphis.

The Scots singing star took six-and-a-half hours to transform herself into The King thanks to prosthetic make-up costing pounds 50,000.

She was determined to create the spitting image of Elvis for her band's latest promo video.

Sharleen teamed up with Vaughn Arnell, the video director behind the Robbie Williams promo Rock DJ. The result is an awesome recreation of Elvis's live 1968 comeback special on US TV - one of the all-time great moments in rock 'n' roll history.

Sharleen explained that it took some convincing by Vaughn that his idea would work.

She said: "Vaughn felt I was the most natural person to be Elvis. I said, 'but I'm a wumman'. He was convinced though."

She is a lifelong Elvis fan and remembers using shampoo when she was a little girl to style her hair into a quiff as she watched the Elvis films on TV.

Sharleen explains: "I had to go down to Shepperton studios and get my head cast which was rather a strange experience.

"It's prosthetics. They've added a nose, a chin and a bit of forehead to me. I had to have a wig and sideburns."

She persuaded her pal, Gucci's chief designer Tom Ford to design an outfit just like The King's black leather jumpsuit.

She mimics Elvis's moves in the show and kisses the predominantly female fans in the video, shot in grainy black and white.

Sharleen, 32, revealed that one girl refused to take a peck, even when she assured her it was a big act and she loves men.

She laughed: "I don't think the spirit of Elvis was looming over me." But she loved filming.

Top Of The Pops pulled out all the stops to exclusively broadcast the video tonight - more than a month ahead of the release of the single Inner Smile.

Sharleen insists the Elvis suit won't be in her act when Texas tour in the New Year.

She said: "When the band saw me as Elvis their jaws hit the floor."


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