Astrid Harris on starring as Céline Dion in 'Titanique'

This wildly talented singer is making her mark in the sublimely silly Titanique, and finally showing the West End what she can do.

Astrid Harris is making her West End debut as Céline Dion in Titanique, a role she previously played in the Paris production. Originally from Manchester, this seriously impressive vocalist is finally breaking through, in a role she was born to play.

You started in the Paris production — did you ever imagine it would lead to your West End debut?
No, absolutely not! I auditioned for the ensemble for Paris, got offered Céline Dion instead — a huge shock. I told myself, “This is short, just enjoy it, take from it what you can.” Then two weeks before we closed, I got a call offering me London. If you’d told me this eight months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.

How did you get started singing?
I started as a child opera singer, sang in local opera productions, competed in classical festivals and won Young Northern Singer of the Year. But I was obsessed with divas: Aretha, Céline, Beyoncé, Christina. I wasn’t allowed to sing that style, but I wanted to. I did a year at drama school, then worked on cruise ships for seven years with my show Decades of Divas, a diva from every decade of the past hundred years. When Titanique came up I thought, “oh, that’s me”.

Who is your number one favourite diva?
Of all time? Whitney Houston. I’ve always been obsessed with her. The most natural, powerful voice.

How was performing Titanique in Paris?
It was such a learning experience. Some jokes didn’t always land there, but physical humour always did. In France, Céline is the ultimate megastar, so any joke about her life landed immediately. In London, some don't — like one about her husband René, which gets a huge laugh in Paris.

How do West End audiences compare?
I'm loving it. I love the little oohs and ahhs and the odd shout-out, they make each show different. This show has improvisation in it, so when the audience reacts, it gives you something to bounce off, which makes it really fun.

Now you’re in the West End, what other roles would you like to play?
We all have that one show that made us fall in love with musical theatre — for me, that was Wicked. I’d love to be any part of Wicked. I reckon I might be too tall to fit in the bubble, but I wouldn’t mind being green one day...

What Céline Dion song would sum up your Titanique journey?
“Taking Chances”, 110%. I was really struggling a year ago, feeling like nothing was moving forward. I kept thinking, “just take a chance on me”. Then this came up — I was in for ensemble, then on the final day they asked me to sing “Taking Chances”. I thought, that would be wild, wouldn’t it? As soon as I finished, they offered me the role. I’d been asking for someone to take a chance, and they did. It means everything.

Book Titanique tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Astrid Harris in Titanique. (Courtesy of production)