Beverley Knight: playing Whitney Houston is so emotional

Beverley Knight told today how her memories of Whitney Houston helped her cope with the pressure of taking the lead in The Bodyguard musical.

The multi-award-winning singer said she felt no pressure to do the songs justice as she knew them so well, and had made a conscious decision from the start not to try to mimic the icon.

But after last night’s show, the 40-year-old soul queen, who was making her West End debut, told the Standard that perfecting the acting side of the part had been nerve-racking. She also admitted to being “terrified” the first time she had to kiss former Casualty star Tristan Gemmill, who plays the bodyguard.

She said: “The role is huge. I remember the film coming out and going to the cinema. Whitney was a huge influence on me and just about every other female who came after her.

“So it was a big, big role to fill, but I took comfort from the fact that she had never acted before either.

“I know those songs, I know what they mean — I know the place they are coming from so all I was interested in was making Rachel Marron my Rachel as opposed to ‘Bev does Whitney’.

“I knew everyone would be like ‘We know Beverley can sing, but can she act? Can she do the business on the stage?’ That’s where the pressure came from, but I thought I can only give it the very best I’ve got every time.”

Wolverhampton-born Knight, who received a standing ovation even before the performance had ended, has taken over from Heather Headley in Thea Sharrock’s production at the Adelphi Theatre. The musical is based on the 1992 hit film featuring Houston — who died in last year — in her first acting role, and Kevin Costner as Frank Farmer, her bodyguard.

Knight confessed she is already hooked on the theatre. “If something else came along, another great role, I’d be insane not to consider it, because I’m loving this,” she added.

Gemmill said hearing his leading lady sing for the first time was “thrilling” . He added: “I have completely landed on my feet — I get to kiss Beverley every night and listen to her sing. I just do a bit of talking in between.”

Among the famous n ames in the audience were Emeli Sandé, Joss Stone, Strictly dancer Brendan Cole and Melanie C. She said: “I forgot it was Beverley on stage — she totally smashed it.”