Pop star and TV personality Alesha Dixon recently shared a surprising anecdote from the set of N.E.R.D's iconic 2004 music video for 'She Wants To Move.' During an appearance on Capital XTRA Breakfast with Manny Norte, Dixon revealed that her intense dedication to the performance led to her needing an oxygen mask!
Dixon, who starred as the main "hot chick" in the high-energy video, reminisced about the experience, stating it felt like "a lifetime ago." When asked how she landed such a prominent role, Dixon explained that a casting director spotted her in Arena magazine. "She read inside that I was in a group, so she thought, ‘Okay, so she must be able to dance,’" Dixon recounted. The casting director then presented Dixon's image to Pharrell Williams, with Dixon revealing, "apparently it was between myself, Naomi [Campbell] and Tyra [Banks]."
Williams ultimately chose Dixon, reportedly because he wanted someone less known in America and, crucially, someone who could dance. Dixon admitted that meeting and even rapping for Pharrell was "very intimidating." Despite the initial nerves, she described the video shoot as "one of the best experiences that I ever had," praising director Dave Myers and choreographer Hi-Hat.
However, the intensity of the shoot took an unexpected turn. "I had to have an oxygen mask on the day of the video, did I tell you that?" Dixon confessed to a surprised Manny Norte. "Because you know what I'm like, energy-wise. I was so hyped up, like, trying to make this right." As a recording artist rather than a typical video girl or professional dancer, Dixon was determined not to let the team down. "I was trying my hardest, and I was going for it, going for it, going for it, going for it! At one point I couldn't breathe, so they had to give me the oxygen mask!"
