Interview: Actress Emily-Mae on playing Nicki Marron in THE BODYGUARD UK & Ireland tour

Photo credit: Paul Coltas

The international, award-winning smash-hit musical is back, and with the UK & Ireland tour of The Bodyguard now well underway, we caught up with Emily-Mae who plays Nicki Marron in the production.

You’re currently playing Nicki Marron in the tour of The Bodyguard. It’s an iconic film - what can audiences expect from the musical?

With a similar story to the iconic film, The Bodyguard musical has a lot more Whitney Houston songs, a few more twists and turns to keep up the drama, and incredible dancing from our amazing ensemble featuring choreography by Karen Bruce. It’s like the film; it has all the iconic moments you remember and want to see, but with a few more dramatic turns and glitz and glam.

What first attracted you to the role of Nicki?

The role of Nicki Marron is a very attractive role for an actor because not only does she get to sing these iconic songs, but she has a really deep and complex character – there’s a lot of emotions going on… jealousy, lust, love, and confusion. She’s going through a lot, which is always fun for an actor to sink their teeth into.

The show is touring across the UK and Ireland. Which venue are you most looking forward to performing in?

I’m a northern girl so I’m most looking forward to performing anywhere near home so my friends and family can come and see – Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Manchester etc. Always excited to be anywhere where I can either stay at home or see people from home, which is so important to me.

We all know that Whitney Houston starred as Rachel Marron in the film version of The Bodyguard, but if a film was made about your life, which singer would you want to play you?

This is going to sound so cliché but I would love Beyonce to play me. Oh my gosh! Imagine! I actually saw Beyonce last week and I think that’s why she’s the first person that came to mind. She is iconic and the queen of the universe in my opinion - if you don’t agree, I think you’re wrong! It would be phenomenal. I wouldn’t deserve it, but I’d need it!

If you could choose any film to produce as a musical, which would it be and why?

My first response to this, and I think it might already be happening, is Hercules. I don’t know why it’s not a musical already. I think someone is ahead of me here and it’s coming, but Hercules 100%. It’s fantastic. When I think back to my youth, I used to watch it over and over again, and now I’m working in musicals for a living, it makes sense because it’s just a musical in animated form. It’s perfect in my eyes. If someone is already doing it, then I’m very ready to be in it!

The Bodyguard continues to tour across the UK and Ireland until January 2024, with tickets for select touring venues on sale here.