Kiwi’s right royal performance
Best known on our shores for playing Shortland Street’s Morgan Braithwaite, Bonnie Soper is readying herself for the global attention that comes from playing one of the world’s most recognisable figures.
The 34-year-old Invercargill-born actress will portray Princess Diana in a TV movie based around the courtship of her son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Filmed in Vancouver, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance will be released around the world in the lead-up to the pair’s wedding on May 19. It will debut in New Zealand on Sky TV’s Vibe channel at 8.30pm on the big night itself.
Admitting that she hasn’t seen the finished film, Soper says she’s really looking forward to watching it.
‘‘It’s just such a beautiful love story and I really enjoyed reading the script.’’
Describing the chance to play such an iconic, real-life person as a ‘‘pretty amazing experience’’, she says the opportunity came through her New Zealand agent.
‘‘I get sort of instinctive about some things and I felt really positive about this because I really enjoyed the process of preparing for the audition.’’
As well as doing some research on Diana, Soper also admits she ‘‘had fun’’ doing her hair a certain way and putting on a suitable dress. ‘‘I turned up very much in character,’’ she laughs.
Despite it being her first major audition since she moved to Los Angeles late last year Soper, whose other credits include TVNZ’s Filthy Rich and
Kiwi movies The Map Reader and The Devil Dared Me To, says she received a massive boost from the other actress who was waiting to audition at the same time as her.
‘‘She looked at me and was like, ‘oh my God, you’re just like her. I’m going to read that you were cast’. Then when I went into the room, they were like, ‘wow, you’re just like her’. Sure I was in character, but it was so nice to have that positive affirmation.’’
Soper says her mother was a big fan of the princess, but she only has vague recollections of Diana when she was alive and when she died in 1997.
‘‘I didn’t pay attention to the whole royal scene – I was a little southern girl. However, I do very much recall seeing her in the magazines and seeing this woman hounded by the press.
‘‘I remember being very interested by her. Then of course, with the accident, I remember being shocked like the rest of the world and feeling sad, so sad.’’
Working on Shortland Street was the perfect preparation for something like this, Soper says, because ‘‘I don’t think anything has anything as fast a turnaround as Shorty’’.
‘‘This was very much a whirlwind because it had to be completed in time for the wedding, but it made me thankful for my training in New Zealand because that enabled me to feel confident in this situation.’’
That was despite having her hair dyed blonde as soon as she arrived on the Vancouver set.
‘‘They ripped up pieces of the script to assist with colouring my hair,’’ she laughs.
Soper says even though it is ultimately a small role in the production, it has been one of her career highlights.
‘‘It has just been a beautiful experience to play someone so complex. Obviously the story is more about Harry and Meghan, but it has given me a little taste [of working in America] and I want more.’’
While admitting that she is feeling a little bashful about whether she’s done a good enough job of bringing Diana to life, Soper says she is excited for people to see the finish product. She also fully expects that she will get a few more people recognising her on the streets of Los Angeles and back home in New Zealand.
However, Soper says there is one other character she is hanging out to be recognised as in America – The Devil Dared Me To’s Tracy Jones.
‘‘Goodness, I would love that so much. Honestly, that would make my day.’’