'Me a diva? I'd rather have a cup of tea than champagne'

Friday, May 02, 2008

As she prepares to appear in Viva La Diva at Belfast's Odyssey Arena tonight, Maureen Coleman finds out whether she lives up to the 'diva' reputation ... and how she's getting on with a certain Blue Peter presenter. A diva by definition is a leading lady of the opera, a goddess, a prima donna — a word more often used to describe a fussy, high maintenance superstar.

Madonna, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez all fall nicely into this category with their ridiculous demands, but despite its negative connotations, some women are still happy to have the term applied to them. Women like mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and Principal ballerina Darcey Bussell, who have just kicked off their second UK tour this week, under the banner Viva La Diva.

Their tour, which sees them combine their respective talents in a song and dance tribute to the heroines who have inspired them, sold out last winter, prompting them to reunite and put on a number of major Arena dates, including tonight's show at the Odyssey Arena.

During the show, both performers step out of their comfort zones — Darcey sings a bit while Katherine dances — and the finale is a joint 20 minute tap routine, which Katherine describes as "exhilarating".

But back to the diva tag and I want to know who is the bigger prima donna between the two.

"To be honest, neither of us is like that at all," says Katherine.

"We both get on great and have the utmost respect for each other. There hasn't been any diva tantrums at all. My mum brought me up to have respect for people and I'm pretty normal that way.

"Well, apart from the odd time when we throw bottles of Evian at each other!"

So no demands for Cristal champagne, dressing rooms filled with white flowers, Egyptian bed linen or organic milk?

"I think our demands are pretty straightforward," she says. " As long as we have some water, tea making facilities and clean towels, we're happy. Sorry, not very exciting, but that's about it really."

Though one comes from a classical music background and the other is a world-famous ballerina, both became friends over the years and decided it would be an interesting concept to fuse their two talents.

"Darcey was hoping to do something a bit more commercial and we just got talking about how we could fuse music and dance, drawing inspiration from the people we looked up to, like the stars from the golden age of Hollywood," she says.

"Obviously I look to people like Maria Callas while Darcey's heroine is Margot Fontaine, but there are other less obvious people we are inspired by — people like Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, Barbara Streisand, Madonna and, for Darcey, stars like Audrey Hepburn and Bob Fosse.

"The show gives us a chance to do the fantasy thing, you know, the things we dreamed about as kids. It also gives our fans a better insight into who we are and what we are about."

Viva La Diva is a two-hour song and dance extravaganza, choreographed by Kim Gavin, who has worked with the likes of Take That. The show sees both performers stretch each other's discipline.

Katherine says: "Throughout the show there are different combinations, but it's very full-on and exhausting.

"While Darcey is dancing, I'll be out the back changing my costume, then I'm back out singing, accompanied by Darcey dancing. Then Darcey will sing and I'll dance. We step out of our comfort zones, which can be a bit scary.

"The first time I walked into the dance studio with Darcey it was very daunting, but we help and encourage each other.

"I have so much respect for her and she allows me to be brave. We work well together."

As the show is pretty energetic, both stars have to be at their physical peak. Katherine has hired a personal trainer to put her through her paces, but still admits to feeling exhausted by the time the curtain falls.

"I've got myself a trainer and I've taken up running. I do a lot of weight stuff as well," she says.

"The show is like a runaway train. We just don't stop. From the minute the first note is played we are working. Even if I'm not on stage, I'm running about, getting changed in as little time as possible. I'm dancing, being thrown in the air and all the time I have to keep singing live.

"Towards the end of the show I'm suddenly thinking that this is it, it's going to end now, then we have a 20 minute tap routine. It's exhilarating, but I'm shattered when it's over."

Though still only 27, Katherine's achievements are impressive — she is the first British classical artist to have two number one albums in the same year and is also the first female artist to win two consecutive Classical BRIT Awards.

Choosing her career highlight must be difficult for the operatic superstar who first tasted fame at the age of 12 when she became the BBC Welsh Choirgirl of the Year.

"Yes, it's hard for me to pick one thing that really stands out, but I guess entertaining the troops in Iraq meant a lot to me," she says. " And of course, winning the Classical BRIT Awards was pretty special. My mum organised a bus trip from Wales for all my family and friends, and it was amazing to have them all there at the Albert Hall to see me win."

And a rather un-diva like appearance on ITV soap Emmerdale is another memorable occasion.

"My nan was a big fan of Emmerdale, but she passed away a few months before I went on the show," she says. "So when they asked me to do a cameo appearance, I jumped at the chance.

"My nan would have been so proud. She was a huge Royal fan, and even though I sang for the Queen, I really think nan would have been more impressed by my Emmerdale appearance."

Katherine has often been described as the "opera Madonna" but laughs off suggestions that she has helped make classical music sexy. Instead, she says, she has contributed in some way to making it more accessible to the masses.

"I don't think of what I do as sexy. I always wanted to widen the appeal of classical music and I think I've done that to some extent," she says. "It's all about the way people are introduced to it. For some reason, so many people are daunted by the prospect of classical music, but I bet if you were to ask people in the street to listen to Nessun Dorma, they would know that song. It's all about breaking down barriers."

Katherine is also a huge rugby fan so was delighted when the Welsh rugby team asked her to be their official mascot.

"Every time I have to sing the anthem at the home ground, I get so emotional," she says.

"And yes, getting to meet all those big rugby players is a tough job, but someone's got to do it."

With her stunning good looks, the down-to-earth Neath girl could no doubt have her pick of hunky rugby players, but has been dating fellow countryman Gethin Jones for several months now.

She prefers to keep her relationship with the Blue Peter television presenter private and I've been advised not to ask her about him. But I feel we're getting along quite well, so I venture a question, just in case.

"Speaking of sexy men, how are things going with Gethin?" I ask her.

There's a pause and I imagine I hear an intake of breath on the other end of the telephone. Maybe now the diva side to Katherine will finally come to the fore.

Then she laughs: "Gethin's just fine, thank you for asking." Although I know not to pursue this line of questioning, there's not a hint of reproach as she invites me down to the Odyssey Arena tonight to watch the show.

She may be gorgeous, talented and have the world at her feet, but if she wants to live up to that image of a diva, Katherine Jenkins needs to throw a few more bottles of Evian.

Viva La Diva, Odyssey Arena, Belfast, tonight, 7.30pm. Box office 9073 9074 or Ticketmaster 0870 243 4455