To think that very few celebrities have the 'x factor'

[Bargaincatfood]

not an intellectual thread
Especially not most of those who won the show?! I remember the year 1direction were in it, my friends and I used to watch it before going out. We used to talk about the curly haired one, he wasn't that good looking, wasn't the best singer or the best dancer but my god was he mesmerising. Even my mum commented on him. Now he's the only one out of that insanely popular band with any semblance of a career.
It makes me think how few celebrities there are with that utterly mesmerising, star quality, where they're the only person you pay attention to on stage. It's hard to distinguish this from talent, obviously you pay attention to someone with an amazing voice. But that's not enough on it's own, as poor Leona found out.
I used to think it about Corrine Bailey Rae too, she was just so unique in tone and beautiful, but then she faded into oblivion so i mustn't have been in the majority.

Who has the X factor for you?

If we are talking about pop singers and TV hosts then it is very much style over substance. That means it is actually really hard to peel back the layers of production, make up, etc. to see if someone really has a huge amount of talent. It is only when they are in a situation that requires them to have real talent that you can tell.

I was reminded of this when listening to Alexandra Burke's rushed, out of tune and overly busy version of 'Abide with me' at the Festival of Remembrance last night. Sadly she didn't quite cut it.

An example of the opposite is Myleene Klass where she is presented as a pretty, smiling pop star turned TV host, but she is actually an excellent classically trained singer and pianist.

Frances McDormand has that kind of intelligent seriousness I think of as X factor/star quality. As well as Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.

Saw Rufus Wainwright recently - again, has that star quality mix of serious talent, presence, intelligence and wit.

I had absolutely no idea who Adam Driver was when watching him on Graham Norton the other night. I started off thinking he was quite ugly but then switched to finding him rather attractive. So he's definitely got 'something'.

@SalsaLove Yes, James Spader has so much charisma he managed to make Ultron seem compelling with just his voice, despite the film being shite

Adam Driver deffo has it, as do McConaghey and Tucci.

Colin Farrell has a look at me factor about him, especially in a quirky role

I’d also throw Mads Mikkelsen into the charismatic pile (or my bed 🤣🤣)

"Men right now is harder. On a TV level right now I find the Culkin brother who plays Roman in Succession fabulous- to me he really dominates the cast."

I'm late to the party and only just starting watching Succession but I have to agree. Roman is fabulously morally ambivalent

I'd have to add Michael Sheen. Whatever he is in, he is that part. Even in the quite trashy TV series Prodigal Son, he steals every episode with his portrayal of the serial-killer father. You can see how much he is enjoying it!

@MintyGreenDream

I'll probably get torn apart but I don't get the hype around Beyonce.

There's a really funny sketch about how you're not allowed to not like Beyoncé. I can't remember where it's from but your post reminded me (I'm not a fan either!)

100% agree on Adam Driver, he is just amazing to watch. Mention of Michael Sheen made me think of David Tenant, and then obviously from the Doctor Who angle, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. They all have something pretty special I think. Although PC was so badly served by the writing I stopped watching at that point. He's an amazing actor though. They all are really.

Gillian Anderson's been mentioned, I think Amy Adams has 'it' too.

When Luke Evan's was in Piaf there was a moment when he sang a few lines in his normal Welsh accent and the whole room melted away.
It was one of those magical moments and took my breath away.
But in other things he isn't always memorable.

Ian McKellen's sparkle seems to increase with age.
Imelda Staunton almost always draws the eye, she's no beauty but her talent is properly captivating.

With musicians it's been a while since someone made me sit up.

Ian McKellen's sparkle seems to increase with age.

Yes, he was on Graham Norton the other week and he does just sparkle, he's very captivating when he speaks.

I love seeing 'celebs' on shows like that, when you can kind of see a bit of "themselves". I think it makes the true stars shine.

@jay55

When Luke Evan's was in Piaf there was a moment when he sang a few lines in his normal Welsh accent and the whole room melted away. It was one of those magical moments and took my breath away. But in other things he isn't always memorable.

Ian McKellen's sparkle seems to increase with age.
Imelda Staunton almost always draws the eye, she's no beauty but her talent is properly captivating.

With musicians it's been a while since someone made me sit up.

Plenty of fabulous musicians about, they just don't get the opportunities in the mainstream at the moment as bland pop is the order of the day. Some of the utter dross they have on the strictly results show is testament to that.

[quote Megalameg]@FrankButchersDickieBow

Adele’s private life is private? Guess you haven’t seen any of her most recent interviews. It’s all about her private life, her divorce, why she wanted a divorce, what her son thinks about it, what she thinks of what her son thinks about it etc.
I’ve rarely seen a star spill their guts to the level she has been lately. It’s kinda gross.[/quote]
Oops haha. Must have missed that. I tend to turn over/change radio stations, as soon as it is mentioned she is going to be on.

I think Rhianna definitely has it. I remember seeing her perform Diamonds on TV a few years ago and she was singing it while 'rain' was soaking her on stage, amazing performance. Emma Thompson has it and Vicky McClure. Rik Mayall, David Jason, Idris Elba and Mick Jagger are others who had/have to he X Factor IMO

Great thread!!!

Men: James McAvoy. Charisma coming out of every pore.

Women: Nicole Kidman for the X Factor. Super-talented, rarely interviews, mysterious and super-private about her nutty ex.

I've never understood Mick Jaggers appeal personally, but I agree he has the X factor and is a charismatic front man. Some people just have star quality , that certain something you can't put your finger on
I agree with the Robbie Williams example too , he had the bigger personality and was a bit of a ' bad boy' , women seem to love that !

I don't like Mick Jagger at all. I can't sense what others can about him. He gives me a creepy feeling.

* The rise in cheap reality TV like X factor, Big Brother, Towie, Made In Chelsea etc has tried to push normal every day people on us as "stars". The pool of endless names has watered down the quality of our entertainment. Even the professionals on Strictly Come Dancing are sometimes more famous than the "star" they are teamed with. We are so overrun with new faces that people have to be REALLY spectacular to shine.*

^This

I don't get the Harry Styles thing. He's nice looking and seems pleasant. But because he sometimes wears a skirt or ballgown people act as though this is so fresh and new. In 2021?

And his music is so bland. That boy writes cheques his (lack of) talent cannot deliver.

@dayswithaY

How do you explain the success of Adele? She has now reached God-like status with every TV station here and in USA bowing down to her, Oprah interview, etc. This baffles me, what is it about her? Is she really any better at singing/performing than other current female singers?

To me, she doesn't have the X factor. That is a quality that draws you towards them like Kylie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga.

Adele just stands and sings.

I agree

I don't even like her voice.

You're wrong about Leona Lewis, OP. She's had massive success in the states and is considered the second most successful act from XF

@Yamayo

Totally. Dave Grohl is a nice guy and a solid musician but doesn't have 'it'. No offence to him but he never would have had the career he's had if it weren't for Kurt Cobain. Who incidentally had 'it' in spades. If we are going back to the 90s, another beautiful charismatic musician who left us way too soon was Jeff Buckley. A friend of mine had the pleasure of meeting him backstage at a gig in France and still remembers to this day.

Agree on both these.

Dave Grohl is famously nice and the Foo Fighters are ok. But that's it.

Jeff Buckley had buckets of charisma.

@Megalameg

These days it’s true. Very few really charismatic (which is what I think X factor is) celebrities. Oh they’re good looking but not especially charismatic.

Hollywood actors for example - take Daniel Craig as James Bond, handsome? Sure. But nowhere near as charismatic as Connery. Then (since he plays similar action parts) take Chris Pratt and compare him to younger Harrison Ford - again nowhere near the same charisma.

The actresses are even worse. I can’t remember a truly charismatic actress in the last ten years. Scarlet Johanson and Jessica Chastain for instance - good looking but zero X factor. Compare that to actresses from the 50’s, or 60’s or 70’s.

Old Hollywood and the entertainment industry might have had a lot of abuse and sleaze behind the scenes but they also had charismatic stars and energy. The metoo era Hollywood is just bland, bland, bland. Sexless unmanly men and boring uptight women.

It sounds awful but I agree.

My own sense is that it's because they now produce so much content. The vast majority isn't great and the vast majority of actors aren't great either. They have the right kind of face for the camera and that's it.

But sometimes with clever direction the lack of charisma isn't so obvious. But in person, it's really clear and can't be faked. I once met a former PM in my country, not someone you'd write home about in terms of looks or anything. But in person, he had a huge physical presence and he could totally command a room.

And certain performers, when you meet them, it's the same, and it's not about looks. Some of them can turn it on and off, too. I always think of Phillip Glenister that way, he can be incredibly sexy and take up the whole screen, or the fat guy next door you barely notice.

I also has a university professor who was similar. He turned out to be a bad guy, in part he got away with it because he charisma was so incredible. No one liked him much really but he was positively magnetic.

It's hard to look past Freddie Mercury in terms of pop/rock musicians with the X Factor.

@MintyGreenDream

I'll probably get torn apart but I don't get the hype around Beyonce.

Same. She has a dead behind the eyes look

Bryan Molko was pretty magnetic back in the day.

@BlueRaincoat1

In terms of actors, I think Jennifer Lawrence a d Michael Fassbender both have that star quality thing - I think they are both really, really talented and very compelling when on screen. MF in 12 years a Slave and in Hunger, was amazing. JL just has 'it' - she's great to watch.

Yes, I'd agree. I think MF and JL are both bordering on bland in still photographs - they are good looking but in a bland way. And I think MF is a decent actor I'm not sure JL really has great range (although that seems typical with American actors so maybe it's more about how they cast.) But when you hear them and see them move on the screen, they are really compelling.