Geri Halliwell Horner has expressed her enthusiasm about getting back to ‘authentic acting’ via her role in Sony’s upcoming film, Gran Turismo.
The big-screen debut of the 50-year-old star was back in 1997 in Spice World: The Movie, where she portrayed herself alongside Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie C, and Mel B.
However, Geri exited the girl group at the peak of their global fame. The band had sold over 100 million records and topped charts with iconic songs such as Wannabe, Spice Up Your Life, and Viva Forever.
In 1998, she embarked on an impressive solo career that comprised four number one hits, including Lift Me Up and her version of It’s Raining Men.
Over the following years, Geri ventured into more acting, featuring as herself in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous, a guest star in Sex and the City, and playing Jason Statham’s character’s mother in 2009’s Crank: High Voltage.
She is now performing in Gran Turismo, alongside David Harbour and Orlando Bloom. She takes on the character of Lesley, the mother of a real-life GT Academy student-turned-professional-racing driver, Jann Mardenborough, brought to life by Archie Madekwe.
‘From the start, Gran Turismo’s storyline was excellent. It’s a genuinely inspiring story – it’s real, it’s motivating,’ Geri shared with Metro.co.uk, at the film’s photo call during the Cannes Film Festival. It’s filled with action, yet it’s raw.
‘It’s also full of heart.’
Geri also revealed her ambition to revisit her acting roots and return to ‘genuine acting’ with a role distinct from herself.


‘Before joining the band, I spent a few years studying acting and theatre,’ she recalls.
Geri appreciates the movie’s ‘family dynamics, something everyone can relate to’.
Expounding on her character, Lesley Mardenborough, she explains, ‘like every mother, she is concerned about her son,’ especially when he is chosen for intense training to transform into a professional racing driver, following his success in the digital Gran Turismo PlayStation games.
In the movie, her partner is played by Djimon Hounsou, a twice-nominated Oscar contender, who also plays Jann’s father.
Orlando, her co-star, shared his reaction to the film’s pitch from director Neill Blomkamp.
‘When Neill presented this script to me and shared the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the boy from Wales who dared to dream big and went on to drive racing cars, I thought it was a brilliant concept. It’s a film for dreamers,’ he said.
In real life, Geri is also the wife of former racing driver Christian Horner, 49, the current team principal for the Red Bull F1 team, so it’s only natural to think that his passion for racing has had some influence on Geri.
Geri and Christian are parents to a six-year-old son, Montague. Geri also has a 17-year-old daughter, Bluebell, from her earlier relationship with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi.
Christian also has a nine-year-old daughter from his former partner, Beverley Allen.
Gran Turismo is set to hit UK cinemas on August 11.