Halston star Ewan McGregor opens up about how he felt meeting Liza Minnelli
Halston: Ewan McGregor stars in trailer for Netflix film
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Halston is a popular Netflix series based on the fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, and it documents his life as an esteemed fashion icon. Ewan McGregor, known for his roles in Star Wars and Moulin Rouge amongst other hit films, takes the lead role in the TV drama. The star opened up about meeting Liza Minnelli, who was a huge part of Halston’s life.
Halston has been airing on Netflix since May 2021 and the short series walks viewers through the life and success of the notorious designer.
The star was recognised for his minimalist fashions, and he specialised in womenswear, opening his own stores in highly-esteemed locations.
He was known to have rubbed shoulders with some famous faces from the 1970s, and one of his closest friends was singer Liza Minnelli.
A documentary about Halston was made in 2019 and Minnelli spoke about her relationship with the designer.
She said he reminded her of her father, due to his command of costume and clothing.
In an interview for Deadline Contenders Television, McGregor said he was given the opportunity to meet Liza Minnelli privately.
The creators of the miniseries said they had used various forms of source material, such as books, to gain insight.
They said the writers did not reach out to the singer, but McGregor was offered a meeting.
The actor said: “It was extraordinary to meet her at all, but to meet her and have this discussion about her great friend Halston was very moving.
“It was such an important relationship that they shared with each other and I wanted Liza to know that her good friend Halston was in safe hands with me.
“And that we were approaching this piece with great respect and that I appreciated the depth of their friendship and love for each other.”
In the series, Minnelli is played by Krysta Rodriguez and she also spoke out about her experience taking on such an important role.
She said: “A definite challenge. Again, like Ewan said, it was the joy of my life to get to know her in the way you have to get to know someone as an actor.
“We hadn’t actually met but there’s a piece of her I relate to that I got to live with and carry with me, and it changed me.
“I do believe you encounter roles when they need to teach you something about who you are because they can’t help but leave an invaluable mark in your life.
“I just loved diving into her power and her explosive persona, but then her true vulnerability.
“And really one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience was having this relationship between her and Halston, because they were so intrinsically linked.
“And the fact that they really both came into their own as we know them.”
Halston helped style Minnelli for all the biggest events, including her 1973 Oscar win for Cabaret.
At the same time, she supported him throughout all of his fashion shows.
She would often join him on stage to give his shows a sense of Hollywood glamour and she once performed an adaptation of “Bonjour Paris” for Halston’s Battle of Versailles fashion show in 1973.
For many years after his death, Minnelli sat in the front row of fashion shows where his designs were showcased.
She would cheer at his designs and would continue to celebrate his work as the first designer who put American fashion on the map.
Fans have shared their thoughts on their friendship as it is depicted in the series, with one saying on Twitter: “Krysta Rodriguez as Liza Minnelli in #Halston is AMAZING. I love Ewan to pieces but she’s by far the best part of this miniseries so far!”
Another said: “I hope more people come to appreciate Halston and his work. I also love how Liza Minnelli was Halston’s inspiration, muse (and most importantly) his best friend. She definitely is a legend.”
Halston is on Netflix now.
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