CHARLI XCX is never one to shy away from being filmed or photographed.
But this time, the Brat hitmaker was mostly behind the lens as she played a director in her music video for new track Camera.
It is from her upcoming seventh album Music, Fashion, Film, which is set for release on Friday.
Dressed in a plunging blue shirt, Charli sat in the director’s chair as she instructed French actor Vincent Cassel in what appeared to be a desert.
The action-packed scene, filmed in a Kent quarry, showed Vincent’s character with a gunshot wound to his chest.
In scenes that could rival a Hollywood blockbuster, Charli stood in front of an overturned grey car that had ploughed into a sand dune, and was also seen crawling on all fours.
The singer took over London’s Scala nightclub on Tuesday for an intimate performance of tracks from her forthcoming album, including Camera.
In the lyrics, she sings: “It makes me question what I’m doing.
“Do I wanna make music? Am I being f*****g stupid. If I try to be a girl on the screen when I’m turning thirty-four?”
She also appears to reference the gunshot in the line: “’Cause that look, it’s a bullet.”
The film set then transformed into a photoshoot for Charli as she put one a white shirt and black knickers while proudly holding up the new album.
Charli also turned up the heat as she posed, lying on her back in the sand — though notably missing one of her black shoes.
Her 11-track album cover features three legends from the music, fashion and film industry as a nod to the themes in the record.
American filmmaker Martin Scorsese, fashion designer Marc Jacobs and Welsh musician John Cale grace the black-and-white sleeve.
The artwork was set in a kitchen and shot by Scottish photographer Aidan Zamiri.
It comes after Charli worked with John on the track House, which formed the soundtrack of Emerald Fennell’s film Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Of Charli, John previously told British Vogue: “I think we both have an unfaltering commitment to being true to oneself, no matter the cost, no matter who’s buzzing in your ear.
“Charli is fearless, stands her ground, takes no prisoners and is a real sweetheart.
“Her mind is made up, her tenacity ferocious.”
She declared the end of Brat Summer “forever” in September following the global phenomenon, named after her sixth album, which promoted a messy and party-loving aesthetic.
Now Charli is back in the driving seat and I am here for this new, chaotic ride.
ACTRESS Scarlett Thomas has revealed she is a December 10 fan.
The teenage daughter of former Corrie actors Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien, was spotted at the band’s sold-out O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire show in west London on Friday night.
It came as their debut EP On Your Side entered the UK Official Albums Chart at number five.
The band, comprising Cruz, Hendrik, Sean, Danny, Josh, John and Nicolas, was put together last year by music mogul Simon Cowell.
Netflix reality series The Next Act charted their emergence.
Sharing their top 10 award on Instagram, they wrote: “We’re just seven young lads with a dream and seven months ago we couldn’t have imagined this.”
BOSS AXED IN SAM REVAMP
SAM SMITH has split from their management as the Too Good At Goodbyes hitmaker undergoes a huge rebrand.
Sam has parted ways from Jack Street, who founded Method Music.
A source said: “Sam is looking to overhaul their brand and is hoping new management will bring a new direction.”
The singer has also trademarked Sam Served following the success of their foodie Instagram page, which has garnered 309,000 followers.
It comes as Sam has announced ten UK headline shows this autumn in Manchester and London.
The gigs will support the release of the singer’s fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, which is set to drop on August 21.
Sounds like Sam has quite a busy few months ahead.
MODEL Jodie Kidd has hinted she could get behind the wheel again for the new Top Gear series.
She set a lap time of 1 minute, 48 seconds in the “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” segment in 2003.
The BBC show is set to return, four years after Freddie Flintoff’s horror crash halted filming.
Asked if Top Gear bosses had approached her, Jodie told Biz on Sunday’s Emily at a fashion event at Silverstone: “I am not saying a word. That was big news.”
She said of former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond: “Their chemistry was extraordinary.”
Jodie is an ambassador for M&S which has partnered with Silverstone Circuit for the Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix.