We've heard the stories! We love the songs! & we're even in it! Spiceworld: The Movie is slamming its way to a cinema near you from Boxing Day and Live & Kicking Magazine chatted to it's leading laydeez at their very private sneak preview in Paris...
When the Spices invited L & K Magazine to join them in Paris for a natter and to share their popcorn at the first ever screening of Spiceworld: The Movie, we were there in a jiffy! You'll be glad to hear the girls were on tip-top form and beaming from ear to ear, despite all the nasty rumours flying around. "Come on then!" joked Mel B clenching her fists. "Let's be 'aving your questions!"
What did you think when you first saw yourselves on screen?
Victoria: It was scary but I think we're all dead proud of each other. We laughed at the film and, hopefully even if you're not a Spice Girls fan, you'll find it really entertaining.
Mel B: I like the fact that the five of us talked about doing a movie three years ago and it's like a dream come true for us to finally see the end product. (To the other girls) Well done you lot! There may be a little bit inside you that thinks, 'Oh no, I can't believe I acted like that!', but it's funny.
Emma: It's weird 'cause we sat down to analyse our acting but we ended up just watching the film and enjoying it.
Mel C: D'ya know what? We've never seen it on the big screen. We've only watched on tiny monitors. So when we go to the premieres, we're suddenly gonna see our massive faces smiling down. It's gonna be dead freaky!
Did you really drive the Spice Bus, Victoria?
V: Yeah - we did all our own stunts, except the speed boat disaster bit where Mel C dives into the water.
Mel C: There was no way I was jumping into the Thames fully clothed!
The movie implies that you haven't got a life, you've got a schedule. Is it really like this for you?
V: Well, obviously we have to stick to schedules but they're our schedules.
Mel B: If we didn't want to do it, then we wouldn't do it. If one of us is feeling a bit down, then there's the other four to bring us back up.
Mel C: I think what everyone is forgetting is that if the Spice Girls aren't happy with something, they change it!
Mel B: Ha ha ha ha ha! Got it in one!
But to what extent does the movies reveal your real lifestyle?
Mel B: Well, we do live on a double-decker bus, of course!
G: I think our lifestyle is even crazier than what you se in the movie.
Mel B: There's a lot of fantasy there. When people go to the movies, they like a little bit of escapism.
Geri, you only get to kiss one wrinkly-faced alien in the movie. Didn't you gun for any more snog action!
G: Ah, but beauty is only skin deep!
V: You didn't see who was under the mask.
E: Brad Pitt!
Mel B: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
V: He may have been vertically-challenged but he was extremely good-looking.
G: There's only so much you can fit into a movie. We'd all have loved some intimate kisses but it was a mad mission - five days in the life of Spice.
Mel C: We wanted it to be realistic. That's why there's not much snogging!
Mel B: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Geri: Yeah! Check out the movie clip we're talking about and you'll see the only thing I'm capable of pulling!
There's a brilliant clip where you fantasise about being mothers. Are you afraid you could end up like that?
V: Well, it's bound to happen one day.
Mel B: So long as I don't end up wearing that horrible head scarf!
When you dressed up as eachother, did you argue about who was going to be who?
E: No, I think it worked really well. We went with the obvious funny ones, like me as Mel B.
Mel B: I was really uncomfortable in Geri's little outfits.
E: And I had to shout all day.
V: Dressing as Emma, I can understand how she hurt her ankles in those massive platforms.
G: But I loved being Sporty. Wearing those comfy tracksuits, she's got the best job in the world. Although I did have muscle strain the next day.
Mel C, how did you cope with Victoria's heels?
Mel C: (Head in hands) Oh no! I don't wanna talk about it!
Victoria: She hated them!
Are the girls we see on screen the 'real' you?
V: What you see is us, but perhaps a bit exaggerated.
Mel B: Not all of us would have learnt the script so we'd just make the bits up as we went along.
But in the movie you moaned that everyone stereotypes you. Does it really get you down?
Mel B: I don't mind.
Mel C: (Giggling) Anyway, Victoria is so posh, isn't she!
G: At the end of the day, we are who we are.
V: Shut up, Ginger!
G: We don't force ourselves to behave in a certain way.
Mel B: No, I have my sensitive quiet moments when I break down and I actually shut up.
E: Oh be quiet! Sometimes we swap over. D'you know Geri acts like a baby sometimes!
Is there anything new you'd like our readers to know about you?
G: When they watch the movie, they'll realise that Victoria is a wicked comedienne and takes the mickey out of herself brilliantly.
E: I've got a fluffy cat.
Mel B: No, Emma! One thing nobody knows is that we're actually all into crytals at the moment - big time. All five of us.
Mel C: We're all a bit spiritual and hippy, like.
G: And we really believe there is something out there watching over the Spice Girls. Thank you, whatever you are!
In the film you face a backlash from the newspapers but you laugh it off. Is that how you're dealing with the horrible press in real life?
Mel B: Between the five of us, we're pretty strong and we know where we're coming from. The press can get things wrong and try to drag us down unless you look at the facts. Just look at the record sales and see how well our albums are doing - they speak for themselves.
E: Also our fans have been so supportive.
Mel B: They're great.
E: And that's the real indicator of how we're doing.
Geri: At the end of the day, everyone can make up their own mind. Don't listen to the newspapers - they're tomorrow's fish 'n' chips.
Mel B: 'Cept fish and chips are great!
You also bicker quite a bit on film. Is that true to life?
E: Sometimes we argue, but not that often.
Mel B: Even then we don't argue badly.
Geri: I've never experienced a relationship like we've got. We've seen eachother naked and going to the toilet.
Ugh! But there's the scene where you nearly split up...
Mel B: We'd never split up totally. If we go our separate ways then fair enough, but we've got a lot to do as a group - like the tour for starters. We're friends and that will never end.
Mel C: We've been through so much together and that will never change.
How strong do you feel right now and what's going to be next for you?
Mel C: I'm as strong as an ox!
G: Our friendship is the strongest thing ever. And as for what's next, we're very excited and proud of our Christmas single Too Much.
Mel C: You can have a good slow dance to that.
E: And we've got some great new material.
Mel C: There's this fab reggae track.
Mel B: I can't wait to release it!
Is there anything you want to tell the fans back home?
Mel B: Yeah. If you could report back to England that Spice Girls are not splitting up!
E: And say 'thank you' to our fans!
All: Yeah! Thank you! See ya soon! Byeeee!
