Charli XCX’s Wild Confession About Smoking “a Million Cigarettes” for Her New Film Will Shock You

Charli XCX brought her signature wit to the Berlin Film Festival press conference for The Moment, joking that she went “Method from the day I was born” to prepare for her role.

A Heightened Version of Herself

The A24 mockumentary stars Charli as an alternate-reality version of herself, caught between staying true to her art or crossing over to commercial success. Alexander Skarsgård plays a sinister director hired to make a concert film about her “Brat” tour, pushing Charli into a battle over authenticity.

Charli admitted that the role wasn’t far from reality. “I’ve been training to play this role my entire life,” she laughed. “Have I had a breakdown in the back of a Viano while smoking a million cigarettes? Yes. So I definitely had a lot to draw on.”

Star-Studded Cast

Alongside Charli and Skarsgård, the film features Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, Rish Shah, Kylie Jenner, and Rachel Sennott.

Critical and Commercial Success

The Moment premiered at Sundance last month before hitting U.S. theaters, where it became A24’s fastest-selling limited release in history. More than 50 screenings sold out, with most ticket buyers under 35. Following its Berlinale debut, the film opens across Europe next week.

Charli on Berlin and Beyond

Charli praised the Berlin Film Festival for championing bold, political, and visionary films. “Those are the kinds of films that we love and want to champion ourselves,” she said, adding that she feels passionate about working in spaces that push boundaries. Asked if The Moment marks the end of her “Brat” era, Charli was direct: “For me, it’s over. And you can’t dread the end when it’s over.” She explained that the film serves as a “full stop” to the album campaign, symbolizing her decision to move forward creatively.