It's been over a decade since Christina Aguilera starred in Burlesque as Ali Rose, but how old was she when the musical hit the big screen?
More than a decade ago, Christina Aguilera took to the big screen to play small-town girl Ali in the musical film Burlesque, and the pop icon was still relatively young when she engaged in this role amid her blossoming career. The 2010 movie more or less reflects the narrative of artists like Aguilera in that Burlesque follows the journey of a young woman fighting to make a name for herself from the ground up to stardom. Ali chases her dreams to Los Angeles, where she stumbles upon Tess (Cher) and her struggling burlesque lounge, and despite the tough grind, they both find the success they always dreamed of.
Interestingly enough, Ali and Christina Aguilera's relatedness runs deeper than their pursuits for fame. Burlesque's writer and director Steve Antin found inspiration in Christina Aguilera when she performed with the Pussycat Dolls way before the film's release. Steve Antin had long been inspired by the burlesque dance troupe background of the Pussycat Dolls but was exceptionally motivated to write the motion picture Burlesque after witnessing Aguilera on stage; Antin has previously spoken on how Aguilera helped bring his conception to life, "I actually shot the show Christina Aguilera did with the Pussycat Dolls, but I didn't get to know her then. A few years after, we sent her the script for Burlesque. I saw her at a party and approached her" (via thethings.com).
Christina Aguilera Was 28 When She Made Burlesque
It is unsurprising that Ali's on-screen portrayal mimics, or can be imagined to be pretty close to, the age Christina Aguilera was when filming on Burlesque began — Aguilera was 28 when she played alongside the legendary performer Cher and a cast of characters to match. Although Ali's age is never revealed in the theatrical movie, her vivaciousness and drive for immediate success can lead audiences to assume she's still reasonably young. It would make sense for Ali to be in her mid to late 20s, especially because Steve Antin was influenced by Aguilera and the Pussycat Dolls in the first place.
How Old Were The Rest Of The Burlesque Cast?
The casting of the remaining characters of the movie Burlesque is similarly coordinated in age. Other big-hitting actresses that makeup Tess' burlesque troupe were young and matched their characters' on-screen portrayal — actress and singer Kristen Bell who played Nikki, was 30 years old, Julianne Hough was 22 as Georgia, and Chelsea Traille was 25 playing Coco. Cher was the most senior actress on screen at 64 years old.
Of the men who acted in Burlesque, Cam Gigandet, who played the principal love interest Jack, was 28 at filming. Sean's Stanley Tucci was 50 years old, and Eric Dane, who acted as antagonist Marcus, was 38. Despite more than a decade past, Burlesque is still garnering fondness from fans, and a predominant part of its resurgence is the star power behind the film's great casting.
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