Tom Holland recently looked back on his famous Lip Sync Battle appearance where he performed a standout mashup of Singin’ In the Rain and Rihanna’s Umbrella. The 29-year-old actor donned drag for the competition, which pitted him against his now fiancée Zendaya. His performance has since become widely recognized, drawing attention to a side of Holland that many fans had not seen before.
During an appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s Scrambled cooking show, Tom shared how his father wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea of him taking part in the show, fearing it could impact his rising fame. Despite those concerns, Tom embraced the opportunity and delivered what many consider a career-defining moment on television.
The Creative Process Behind His Lip Sync Battle Routine
Tom revealed that when he and Zendaya initially planned their Lip Sync Battle acts, they had agreed to keep things simple and not go overboard.
“It’s so funny, Zendaya and I, we were chatting at the time about what we were gonna do, and we had agreed that we would take it easy. That was the agreement, that it was like, ‘I’m not gonna do anything crazy, you’re not gonna do anything crazy, we’re just gonna keep it nice and easy breezy,’”
he said to Gordon Ramsay.
However, as rehearsals continued, the concept evolved beyond their initial plans. Tom described how the idea of incorporating Rihanna’s Umbrella came from the creative team and how the performance progressively became more elaborate.
“When I was working with the creative team coming up with the ideas, they kind of pitched this ‘Umbrella’ thing, and as we were rehearsing, it got crazier and crazier,”
he said.
“And then the rain machine came in. And then I was like, ‘F–k it, I wanna wear fishnets and do this, and I want a wig and a quick-change.’”
Tom’s enthusiasm for the evolving performance led him to fully commit to the bold routine, which included theatrical costumes and props that helped make the act unforgettable.
Why Tom Holland’s Dad Initially Disapproved
Despite his excitement, Tom’s enthusiasm was met with hesitation from his father, who worried about the consequences of appearing on such a high-profile TV show early in Tom’s career.
“I was like, ‘No, dad. It will be really fun. Like, I’m going to have a good time,’”
Tom recalled.
“I think he was just, at that time in my career, he was very worried about me becoming too famous too quickly. So he was really keen for me to not do extra TV shows that I didn’t have to do to try and maintain that part of my childhood.”
His father’s caution stemmed from a desire to protect Tom’s youth and prevent his fame from accelerating too rapidly outside of major film roles. Despite this, Tom chose to bring his creative instincts to the stage and create a performance that remains distinctive.
Legacy of the Lip Sync Battle Over Other Projects
Although Tom Holland has poured immense effort into many film projects, he admits that his Lip Sync Battle appearance is the work that people talk about the most. He remarked,
“Honestly, of all the pieces of work I’ve done that I’ve put my heart and soul into, blood, sweat and tears, the Lip Sync Battle is the thing that everyone brings up. It’s never Spider-Man. It’s never, you know, any of my other movies. It’s always Lip Sync Battle. It haunts me.”
This unexpected legacy highlights how the playful, unexpected performance captured public affection in a way his blockbuster films have not, becoming a lasting part of his public persona.
Upcoming Projects and Filming Updates
In other news, Tom Holland is currently filming the latest installment in the Spider-Man franchise, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The production has recently commenced on location in the streets of Glasgow. Fans have been sharing glimpses of his new suit and scenes from the first day on set, increasing anticipation for the upcoming release.
As Tom continues to balance large-scale film projects with moments of lighthearted performance, his career remains one to watch closely.
