Starring as Diana … a hairdresser from the Valleys
WITH tousled hair, casual yet stylish attire and sunglasses perched on top of her head, she undoubtedly bears a strong resemblance.
Now Natasha John, a hairdresser from the Welsh Valleys, is to play Diana, Princess of Wales, in a stage musical about the royal’s life.
Miss John was asked to audition for the role after she appeared in the ‘unexpected star’ slot on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show on BBC1.
Call Me Diana is due to have its premiere at the Leicester Square Theatre in London in September. Yesterday Miss John, 26, who works in her mother’s hair salon in Pencoed, Mid Glamorgan, said: ‘I’m nervous about playing Diana but also excited. There’s some pressure, but it’s also a privilege.
‘I was very young, only five, when she died but I do remember it because my whole family and everyone in our village was distraught. They all loved her.’ A salacious big budget US musical, Diana, opened last month in San Diego, California, and was panned by the critics.
The team behind the British production say their show is a ‘tribute fit for a princess’.
Co-writer Brian Watson said: ‘It’s the story of Diana from the moment she gets engaged to Prince Charles to her death. The finale is an uplifting celebration of Diana’s legacy.
‘Natasha is not a lookalike and was never intended to be. She was given the part because of her singing and acting ability.’
‘An uplifting celebration’