It’s been a month since Cheryl made her West End debut in2:22 A Ghost Story, but already the former Girls Aloud singer has blown away fans and critics with her outstanding performances.
And now an insider reveals that as a result, the mum-of-one has had offers flooding in for future projects – some even from Hollywood.
The source says, “Cheryl’s serious about taking on a major TV or screen role once the play is finished. She knows that the next steps are crucial and could determine what kind of offers she gets. Her agent has mentioned going over to Hollywood – which is incredibly flattering and exciting – but it also stirs up unease, due to what’s happened in the past. Nonetheless, she does feel like acting is the way forward for her now – especially as her latest shot at being a pop star didn’t pan out.”
Cheryl – who first made her name as one fifth of Girls Aloud in 2002 – has had a little acting experience before, having very briefly appeared alongside Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez in Hollywood film What To Expect When You’re Expecting in 2012.
But she has spent time in LA recording her first two solo albums, and collaborated and built up a great friendship with close pal Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am and his bandmate Fergie. Her LA-based friends also include A-list choreographer Todrick Hall – who she starred on The Greatest Dancer with. And Todrick is friends with the likes of Taylor Swift and RuPaul.
She also sparked up a friendship with Khloé Kardashian, who lives close to the home Liam Payne owned in Calabasas when he and Cheryl were dating. When Cheryl’s son Bear was born in 2017, Khloé shipped over a £5,000 baby hamper to congratulate Cheryl. Two of her former flames – dancer Derek Hough and PT Tre Holloway – are also based in LA.
However, Cheryl – who turns 40 this year – has also had a negative experience in the States. Her biggest bid for success in America came when she was chosen as a judge on the panel of The X Factor USA in 2011 – following her successful stint on the UK version of the show.
But Cheryl was replaced on the panel by Nicole Scherzinger not long after they’d started filming the show – and it later emerged she had been sacked after just two episodes after producers raised concerns that US viewers would be unable to connect with her or understand her Newcastle accent. Simon later said that Cheryl was “nervous, shy, not in her comfort zone” on the US panel.
At the time, the rejection hit Cheryl so hard she reportedly hid inside her LA hotel for a month – leading staff to dub her “Cheryl Mole”.
And insiders say that despite the exciting offers, and forming close friendships with some of LA’s biggest stars, the decision to move wouldn’t be an easy one.
The source says, “Cheryl knows trying to make it again in Hollywood could be incredible, She feels like the buzz around her right now is because she’s managed to pull this off and surprise people with her acting talents – she wants to keep the momentum going. She thinks her calling may now be in proper drama, so she’d love something challenging and gritty, like Happy Valley or a Netflix drama – especially as she’s proven that she can tread the boards on the West End, which is no easy feat.
“But she’s also haunted by what happened last time. She still feels filled with dread and insecurity over her doomed experience with The X Factor USA. She felt like she had failed at something on a global scale as news of her being fired by Simon Cowell made headlines around the world.
“She and Simon are on good terms now, and she knows she could turn to him if she needs too. She also has a few contacts out in LA – like will.i.am, Todrick and even Khloé. But she wouldn’t have her closest friends and family around her. She knows it would be a big risk and that scares her – but she also knows the rewards could be amazing.”
While Ghost Story has been a great success, it comes after a period of bad luck for Cheryl in the UK too, after The Greatest Dancer was scrapped after two series in 2020, and her most recent single, Let You, released in 2019, only reached number 57 in the charts.
Now the source adds that Cheryl – who previously has described herself as “a really homely person… I miss home even when I’m only away for a few days” – will be weighing things up between staying in the UK or trying to head to Hollywood.
The source adds, “Right now, there are a few offers on the table for Cheryl already – from both overseas and here – but she wants to tread carefully. She loves being with her family and friends in the UK, and she has to think of what Bear wants. She’s spending the next few months focusing on Ghost Story and weighing up options. The last thing she wants is for things to cool off in her career again, now that she’s really hot property.”