Sid and Nancy (also known as Sid and Nancy: Love Kills) is a 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox. The film portrays the life of Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman), bassist of the seminal punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his relationship with girlfriend Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). The film is largely based on the mutually destructive, drug- and sex-filled relationship between Vicious and Spungen. Vicious’ mother, Anne Beverley, initially tried to prevent the film from being made. After meeting with Cox, however, she decided to help the production; for example, Beverley gave Oldman Vicious’ own heavy metal chain and padlock to wear in the film. Some of the supporting characters are composites, invented to streamline the plot. Oldman lost weight to play the emaciated Vicious by eating nothing but “steamed fish and lots of melon”, but was briefly hospitalised when he lost too much weight.
