Summary

Alexis Petridis’ article “Robbie Williams: ‘My main talent is turning trauma into something showbizzy’ ” begins with an introductory paragraph about the article’s topics.

It continues with a description of how the writer meets Robbie Williams in his hotel room for the interview. The writer is surprised that Williams smokes, both because it would be very expensive to ignore the no-smoking rule in the hotel and because Robbie Williams gave up smoking four years before.

Robbie Williams explains that he started to smoke again to suppress his appetite after he had gained weight. He also recounts how he tried to hide his smoking from his wife.

Williams then speaks about his hit “Party Like a Russian” and how it was received in Russia. He also expresses his intent to keep his daughter, Theodora, away from psychologically damaging people if she decides to have a career in show business.

The writer recounts how Williams appears unbothered by the photographs showing furniture being moved into his new London home. This is interesti...