Rita Ora is learning to play the harmonica – and Ronnie Wood has been giving her tips.
The 35-year-old singer-songwriter has been getting pointers for The Rolling Stones guitarist, and she is keen to learn how to play the guitar next.
She told The Sun newspaper: “I’m learning the harmonica and then I want to learn the guitar.
“I just saw Ronnie Wood and he is incredible at the harmonica.
“He was teaching me certain things.”
Despite getting her big break 14 years ago when she featured on DJ Fresh’s hit song Hot Right Now, Rita still has singing lessons.
She said: “I still have singing and acting lessons.
“I never stop learning.”
The Fifty Shades of Grey actress insisted she is “very strict” when it comes to work, and she restricts her social outings when she has upcoming performances – but Rita “loves working”.
She added: “I just want to keep learning and surprising people.
“I am very strict when it comes to my work. When I’m singing, I don’t go out. I don’t do any of that stuff.
“I love working.”
Despite starring in several TV shows, movies – including Tin Soldier, and forthcoming film Honeymoon with Harry – and achieving 13 top-10 singles in the UK alone, Rita still feels she has “so much to prove”.
She added: “I don’t think about what I’ve done.
“I still feel like I have so much to do and to prove.
“I don’t ever just put my feet up; that’s just not how I am wired.”
Rita is expected to drop her fourth studio album and an accompanying tour later this year.
Speaking to a Melbourne radio station in October, she said: “There’s definitely an album coming.
“I’m really focused on this record and I’m coming out to tour – I haven’t toured an album since 2018.
“My career has been so interesting. I’ve done film, TV, so kind of outwards. In the new year, I’m going inwards – to clean up shop and lead with intention.”
The Heat singer explained she plans to tour in both Australia and New Zealand, because the region has become her “second home” since she married Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi in 2022.
Rita said: “I’m 100 per cent going to tour Australia, then to New Zealand and then back again – it’s like my second home.”
