Hollywood United

Hollywood Gooner: Demi Moore at Highbury

14 April 2012

Football and films have not always been regarded as perfect bedfellows, though the clientele at Highbury and the Bernabeau over the past couple of days points to a changing landscape.

On Saturday, Demi Moore found sanctuary in the Arsenal directors' box, and 24 hours later Tom Cruise was perched alongside the Beckhams in Madrid.

Furthermore, Kevin Costner has made no secret of his affection for Arsenal, having watched the Gunners on several occasions, while Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood developed a soft spot for West Ham during filming at Upton Park for the movie The Yank.

Even Cameron Diaz has got in on the act, somewhat oddly, declaring herself as a Brentford fan. All of which suggests that football has tapped into a new, and rather unlikely, calibre of punter.

Ken Loach, one of Britain's leading and most respected film directors, believes that film stars have been attracted to football's evolving image.

"I suppose some of them see it as quite a sexy place to be," said Loach. "In some ways football has become a bit more like Wimbledon, where people are sitting in stands instead of standing on the terraces.

"But I think it's more the fact that players at the top level are seen as much more sophisticated. There are more French, Italian and Spanish footballers here now and those cultures bring a certain sophistication which wasn't perhaps there 10 or 20 years ago."

Thierry Henry exemplifies that suave, refined image. Furthermore, in support of Loach's sentiments, the Frenchman has struck up a rapport with Costner, who has a shirt bearing the Arsenal forward's name hanging in his house, which he received, allegedly, in exchange for some acting tips.

Nevertheless, the idea that Demi Moore might find stimulation in watching Steve Wigley's Southampton side suffocate Arsenal last Saturday remains difficult to comprehend. "I was as surprised as anyone to see Demi Moore at Arsenal on Saturday," said Stuart Kemp, UK Bureau Chief for The Hollywood Reporter.

"But it's probably the case that she just had an invite from someone because she's filming in London.

"Beckham with Tom Cruise is more likely to be a clash of icons than anything to do with football. But I think football has changed, it's become more acceptable and cool."

That much is evident to Hollywood's media moguls.

Next year, Milkshake Films will release Goal!, a trilogy that tells the story of a young Hispanic footballer from Los Angeles who forges a career in the Premiership with Newcastle United. Milkshake Films, a Los Angeles film production company, is behind the trio of films which has received FIFA's approval.

"It's very fashionable to be into football now and people in Hollywood have woken up to the fact it exists," said one film industry insider. "The game is becoming increasingly popular in America and people are now far more aware of its power." David Beckham has, inevitably, played a part in that process. And Lisa Penna, publicity assistant at Fox Theatrical, believes that the chasm that once existed between professional footballers and film stars is a thing of the past, strengthening the relationship between both parties.

"Both of them are very high earning and there's a similar exclusivity attached to both industries so there is going to be a mutual interest," she said.

So much so that footballers are increasingly interested in forging careers in the film industry - Sol Campbell is the latest player, following in the footsteps of David Ginola, Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones, to express an interest in acting.

And Loach, whose lead role in his 2002 film Sweet Sixteen was played by a professional footballer, has no reason to believe that Campbell won't succeed.

"I think sportsmen by and large make good actors. I think the discipline of working all the week and then performing on the day relates in some way," said Loach.

Whether running a football team would be mission impossible for Cruise remains to be seen.

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