Pixie Lott

This is quite the special interview as I chat with multi-award winning pop star and actress Pixie Lott. We talk about her early international success, juggling home life with her husband entrepreneur and model Oliver Cheshire, and their two young boys… ahead of the release of her forthcoming thriller, Past Life… in which I also appear!

Tell us about your childhood.

I grew up in Kent and have two older siblings. I got the nickname Pixie because I was 7 weeks premature so my mum nicknamed me Pixie as I was so tiny… and the nickname stuck really.

When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in the arts?

Well I’ve always sung… from the age of about 3 years old. I started going to Italia Conti Associates Saturday school when I was 5 years old because my best friend wanted to go, so we went together. I loved it! When I was 11 I got a scholarship to go to the main Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts which focused on the performing arts as well the normal academic subjects. I loved doing all aspects of performance from singing and dancing to acting. I think that having a good grasp of all three helps you to become a better performer and storyteller.

Tell us about your passion for music and your big break.

Music has always been so important to me so I started writing my own album when I was 14 and going for various auditions. Growing up I remember seeing an MTV show charting the rise of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera which showed me that they both had success from a young age, so I knew that it was possible. They really inspired me.

From 2009 it must have been like a rollercoaster for you: international recording artist, songwriter for other artists too

I’ve always really enjoyed writing songs and the more life experiences you have the better you get, I think. But tracks that I had written which Alexandra Burke and Selena Gomez recorded were actually songs that I had written for myself but hadn’t used them for any of my albums. Luckily they were heard by people working for these artists and they asked to use them which was so wonderful. If you take into consideration that I have been writing songs from the age of 14 i have go so many songs that I have written and recorded but probably will never be heard.

Unless perhaps you release a special album of your favourite rare tracks?

You know, I would love to do that. When I listen to artists album it’s often the album tracks that I really enjoy sometimes more than the hits.

You also got the opportunity to throw yourself into dance, by taking part in Strictly in 2014. What was that like?

It was a dream come true!

To learn how to dance by a Latin champion like Trent Whiddon was incredible. Gaining those skills and taking them with me onto future projects is invaluable. We made it to the quarter finals but my dancing didn’t stop there as a few dates for a show called Puttin’ on the Ritz and then Trent and I did a show in Monaco, which was lovely.

What was your favourite dance to learn?

I loved the Samba. I know that a lot of contestants would not agree but I think that’s it’s a really fun dance. I would have loved to have learnt the Argentine Tango and the American Smooth but unfortunately we didn’t get the opportunity to learn those.

Maybe you can learn them for a music video?

Yes! I would absolutely love to do that.

When did you start considering acting roles?

At Italia Conte, I was heavily into my acting then but then music took over.

Then in 2016 i got the opportunity to audition for the lead role of Holly Golightly in the West End production of Breakfast At Tiffany’s, and I got it! I loved playing that character as there’s so many layers to her. It was a tough show to do as it was based on the book not the film so I was on stage all the time and it was 8 shows a week for 12 months. It really took over my life. If I was to a theatre role again I would have to schedule it carefully as I now have a young family. But now when the right role presents itself then I jump at the project, especially for tv or film as you can work filming schedules in a lot easier into home life and my music. Like the role of Claira in Past Life…where I met you as you played the chat show host Zach Power! We shot that film in just two weeks which was fantastic.

Past Life is a thriller with Jeremy Piven & Aneurin Barnard, which has a limited UK cinema release from 20th March but is released on digital from 6th April. Tell us about your character Claira and the film.

It’s certainly a thriller that has lots of twists and turns. The script was great and it’s such a good cast. Claira is expecting a baby with Jason (Aneurin Barnard - Dunkirk), who is a journalist and has been suffering with PTSD after returning from reporting in a war zone. They go with a friend to the filming of Zach Power chat show where a famous hypnotist, Timothy Bevan (Jeremy Piven - Mr Selfridge) claims that he can regress people to get a glimpse into their Past Life! Jason volunteers, thinking that it’s fake, he and the audience are transported into the eyes of what appears to be a serial killer. Jason and Timothy attempt to find out the truth behind the visions of these unsolved murders but this puts him and others in jeopardy. It’s really action packed and I loved doing it.

When we filmed Past Life, you were in fact pregnant with your second baby! Did the writers add that into the script for you and how did it affect your filming experience?

No! Nobody knew. I had only found out myself literally two days before filming began. It was very bizarre to be wearing the pregnancy bump whilst knowing that I was actually pregnant. It really helped me to relate to Claira even more because I was pregnant and so I was able to legitimately bring that vulnerability to the performance.

What was wonderful for me was that it was shot entirely in Cheshire and Manchester with locations like Vectar Studios in Heaton Mersey as well as various Stockport locations. What was your experience like staying in the region for the duration of filming?

You know that was exactly 12 months ago when we filmed that and so I came up with my mum and Bertie to make it all work. We spent two weeks in the area and we loved it. There was lots of things to do and the whole team behind Past Life were so supportive.

What are your three favourite places in the area?

I took Bertie to the brilliant Manchester Museum where they have a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton called Stan, Bertie loved him so we bought a little cuddly toy dinosaur to remember Stan. Bertie still plays with him.

We loved Build A Bear at the Trafford Centre, and we bought a some for Bertie and his cousins wear I could sing into it and you press the bear and you can hear what’s been recorded.

I also really enjoyed Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsey in Manchester. They very kindly gave us a little gold lucky cat chopstick holder… so that’s three very special mementos from our time in Manchester.

We know you must have a huge love for Cheshire as you married one! You and Oliver Cheshire have been together since 2010? How did you meet?

Yes I am actually Victoria Cheshire! Maybe we should live there… the Cheshires in Cheshire!

We were both attending that years London Fashion Week and we were introduced to each other at Bungalow 8 which is underneath St Martin’s Lane Hotel. We exchanged BBM pins on our Blackberry devices… that’s how long ago it is! Then we arranged to meet in New York, as we were both there at the same time… and the dates continued… Now, the rest, as they say, is history.

With your busy and varied career and Olivers, who has a successful fashion brand Che… how do you manage your lives with two under threes?

It certainly a lot different now as our priorities are our two boys so if there’s something he needs to attend I will make sure and I’m back to take over, and vice versa. It really helps that our jobs have flexibility and I get loads of help from my mum and dad because they will come with me on jobs.

How do you look after yourself physically and mentally?

I’m not really a gym goer but when I was doing Breakfast At Tiffany’s, I did start a training programme which on reflection I’m pleased about because the role was so mentally demanding, especially the second act as she loses everything and is left broken. It was so emotionally draining that towards the end I lost myself a little bit to be honest. But the gym I think helped me focus.

What are 3 highlights of your career so far?

The first time that I shot a music video. I had been dreaming of it since I was a little girl growing up watch Britney and Christina videos. I remember turning up and seeing the set and all those people who were there for me… we even had catering!

The first time that I toured, which was the Crazy Cat tour. It was great to meet everyone that had been supporting me by listening to my music and who had made it possible for me to even tour.

Finally I’m going to say Past Life, as it was such a fantastic team of people… and working with you.

What projects have you got lined up?

As well as Past Life I’m going to be releasing some new music to reflect the stage of life I’m at the moment: being a mum and trying to raise two small boys whilst working and doing all the other stuff you have to do in life. I want to do more festivals over the summer as well as auditioning for more acting projects.

If you could give any advice to your younger self what would it be?

Always go with your gut.

Past Life opened nationally in UK showcase cinemas on 20th March with a Q&A at The Light in Stockport. Digital release is from 6th April 2026.