On his official website, Doherty wrote this two days ago:
‘Today I had my first Waltz lesson, in preparation for the forthcoming film: ‘Confession d’un enfant du siècle’. My character must display natural grace and poise – as was expected of a young aristocrat and dandy of 1830′s French society. I was going to film the lesson, but it didn’t seem appropriate. The teacher was just as I had imagined – straight backed, horsewhip in hand, and a brutal perfectionist. What a day! O.k, and 1-2-3 4-5-6 1-2-3 4-5-6 1-2-3 4-5-6
Filming starts on 27th December. I hope they have allowed for overtime on the masked ball and waltzing sequences.’
It may be ironic – or completely appropriate – for someone who had a £250-a-day drug addiction to finally incarnate an artist who died of alcoholism, but the romantic hero role will probably fit like a glove to the ex-Libertines frontman.
And I have heard that his popularity in France is currently huge as he has become the new troubled poet who, ironically, has the same decadent image than,… Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte’s father!