Appearing on the Jan. 5 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, Cher joined host Dax Shepard and his wife, Kristen Bell, who also starred in the film. The three looked back on the experience and agreed that the shoot was far from easy.
Bell said she was thrilled when she first landed the role, especially because the cast included Cher and Christina Aguilera. But that excitement faded once filming began. “It was a hard shoot. It was hard,” Bell admitted.
While they avoided naming anyone directly, Shepard explained that a romantic relationship between powerful people involved in the film created ongoing tension on set. Cher confirmed this and hinted there were other issues she still prefers not to discuss.
Cher also revealed that one senior figure wanted to remove her song “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from the movie, claiming it would distract from the film. The song ultimately stayed in—and went on to become one of the movie’s most praised elements.
Bell recalled coping with the stress by joking around with castmates, including Stanley Tucci, who played Cher’s assistant in the film. Cher echoed that sentiment, saying she loved working with Tucci and got along especially well with Bell.
Reports at the time backed up their memories. In 2010, The Hollywood Reporter wrote about serious clashes on set involving director Steven Antin and then–Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper. Antin later told The Advocate that the shoot was exhausting and emotionally intense, describing it as both “a nightmare” and “a dream come true.”
Despite mixed reviews, Burlesque earned more than $90 million worldwide and developed a strong fan following. Cher’s song has remained a highlight of her live shows, and the film has inspired countless memes. A stage version of Burlesque even ran in London’s West End in 2025.
Looking back, Cher said she never let her celebrity status define her on set. “I’m a woman who’s always worked,” she said. “I’ve worked hard to be who I am—and that’s enough.”
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