Monkeying with Superstardom: Why 'Straight Gay Man' Robbie Williams Couldn't Pass Up 'Better Man'

EDGE: "Forbidden Road," the song you were Globe nominated for, was disqualified from the Oscar shortlist. That's got to be frustrating. What is your reaction?

Robbie Williams: I am a deeply, deeply introverted [person] that does an extrovert's job for a living. I am also incredibly married to this project. It is so important to my life, and it is a gift for me and my family and my career. So, if I'm lucky enough and asked to turn up to something that will be conflicting in my soul, once again, to behave like an extrovert in an introvert's setting, I will do it for the film and my family... I find one aspect of it gratifying, and I am full of gratitude that I'm part of the conversation. Also, at the same time, I don't want to go. [Laughs] Here's two things that I feel: One is, "Oh, what a shame." The other one is, "Great! I don't have to go!" That is not what I'm supposed to say, I suppose. And I don't want anybody who runs these award ceremonies to think that I don't want to be part of the conversation, because I do. But, at the same time, I'm a journalist whose main subject is Robbie Williams, and this is how I'm reacting to it in the moment.

EDGE: I want to ask you about my country, and how we never seem to appreciate you the way the rest of the world does. What is our problem?

Robbie Williams: So, there is no problem. There have been thousands of acts that come to America, and they do the late-night shows, and they do the rounds of radio interviews. And I would say out of a thousand of those acts, 978 of them make no impact at all. My journey here, when I came, is more profound, because of the profound level of success I have everywhere else. I just happen to be one of the 978 acts that made no impact here at all. And it wasn't because America looked at me and shut its doors. It was just that they didn't notice I'd happened. And that's okay, too. Another thing about it is, I never broke Japan. But nobody mentions that.

Here's the thing, though, I've lived in America for 24-25 years, and I'm in love with your country. I'm in love with what it means to be American. I'm in love with what Americans think it is to be American. I'm in love with your country for how it treated me and healed me as a non-famous person that needed to learn how to be a human and to become sober. I'm grateful for the lifestyle here. I'm grateful for finding my American wife. I'm grateful for my American children. I'm grateful for the entertainment that America has afforded me and the rest of the world all my life. There is a lot that I have to be grateful to America for that exists outside of success in my chosen industry.

EDGE: Hoping "Better Man" changes all that.

Robbie Williams: Fingers crossed. That'd be fun. Now I'm old enough, wise enough, and cause less chaos for myself and those around me to appreciate the benefit of what that could do for me, but we'll see.

EDGE: I want to touch on your being a queer icon without needing to be gay. Maybe gay men hope you're gay because you speak to everybody who feels alienated and different.

Robbie Williams: You know, in a day and age where we can choose and represent ourselves in whatever way we see fit... I genuinely choose to be a straight gay man. That's me. I'm a straight gay man! I can do everything that I would need to do to be gay, apart from sleep with a guy. I am in! I'm not selling myself as an ally, which, of course, I am. I'm not pandering to a bit of society that needs pandering to. I'm telling you my honest thoughts. You've never met a gayer straight guy.

Robbie Williams's "Better Man" is currently in theaters.