In the sanctuary of her dressing room in Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Amber Davies calmly begins applying her make-up for the next performance of Pretty Woman: The Musical – in, oh, just about 30 minutes - but, ever the multitasker, she still manages to chat animatedly about this most “challenging role yet”.
“The guide dogs are in work today,” the Welsh theatre and reality TV star informs me, apologising for the background noise while walking past a group of four-legged fans familiarising themselves with the auditorium before curtain-up. “It is so lovely to see them here – it is part of their training, getting used to being in a theatre. We are a very dog-friendly company.”
For the 27-year-old who rose to fame after winning the third series of the Love Island TV reality competition (with then boyfriend, Kem Cetinay), taking things in her stride and remaining unfazed under pressure is a skill she has learned along the way – along with the ability to bounce back after a few knocks.
Whether in the form of negative social media comments – which she stoically batted off during her recent stint on Dancing on Ice (reaching the semi-finals with professional partner, Simon Proulx-Sénécal) - or an actual knock, after walking into a door (which she did the day after rejoining the current Pretty Woman tour which comes to Belfast next month), she gets up, dusts herself down and just gets on with the show.
“You really have to laugh, I mean you couldn’t make it up,” she says. “I survived Dancing on Ice and returned to the Pretty Woman tour injury-free – then I literally walk into a door at Milton Keynes theatre on what was my second day back with the show and I have to get my head glued back together. It was so ironic; hysterical, really.”
Davies plays the Pretty Woman lead role of Vivian Ward, the prostitute-made-good in the modern fairytale rags-to-riches tale immortalised on screen by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the 1990 romantic comedy of the same name. She took a break from the role to appear in Dancing on Ice, but was “itching” to return to the theatre once her skates were off.
“Dancing on Ice was amazing,” she says, “but I was always aware of all the great cities I was missing with the Pretty Woman tour. I love every minute of live theatre and I think Pretty Woman on stage brings a more personal experience for the audience, rather than just watching a screen. I can’t wait for us to bring the show to Belfast.
I absolutely love Belfast and I feel I know the city quite well – we spent a lot of time filming there and, of course, it is the home city of my idol, Rachel Tucker, one of the main reasons why I fell in love with this industry in the first place
— Amber Davies
“I absolutely love Belfast and I feel I know the city quite well – we spent a lot of time filming [CBBC series] Almost Never there and, of course, it is the home city of my idol, Rachel Tucker, one of the main reasons why I fell in love with this industry in the first place. I saw her play Elphaba in Wicked and she just blew my socks off.”
A trained singer, dancer, and graduate of the Urdang [Performing Arts] Academy in London, Davies, (who speaks fluent Welsh, along with her sister, Jade, also a West End musical theatre performer) says she had to fight back against the public perception after leaving the Love Island villa in 2017.
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind since, but I was always keen to get back to my drama roots,” she says.
“When I came out of the villa, I knew instantly that I needed to get back on stage, because even though I had learned a lot, theatre and performance is all I have known, really, since I was young. I needed to prove that I wasn’t just a reality TV star who was suddenly a ‘name’ that was put into a show – that I deserved my place.”
She soon silenced any mutterings on that score two years later with an acclaimed performance as Judy Bernly in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical . Apparently, she impressed Parton, an executive producer on the show who had no idea of her fame, with her audition tape.
Next up was Bring It On and then Back to the Future where she met current boyfriend, Ben Joyce, still channelling his Marty McFly in the award-winning eponymous stage production of the 80s hit film.
“We actually filmed a documentary called Amber and Dolly: 9 to 5 (ITVBe) documenting everything as I prepared to make my West End debut and take on the role of Judy Bernly in 9 to 5 and it was surreal,” Davies gushes.
“Honestly, when I tell the story that I went to Nashville and I interviewed Dolly Parton… even asking her advice on men, it sounds like it’s a bit fictional, but it actually happened - it feels like a dream.
“Dolly really cared about the show and was very hands-on. When she and Kylie Minogue were sitting next to each other on our London press night… well, I don’t think I could feel my legs, they were shaking that much.
“Dolly sent me a gorgeous handwritten letter after press night, wishing me well – she is the most genuine person I’ve ever met.”
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A former cruise ship singer from Denbigh in north Wales, Davies will be touring with Pretty Woman until the tour ends in the autumn but, despite the hectic schedule, says she will never tire of her “funny, strong character” and delivering that iconic line – “Big mistake. Big. Huge...”
I went to Nashville and I interviewed Dolly Parton… even asking her advice on men, it sounds like it’s a bit fictional, but it actually happened - it feels like a dream
— Amber Davies
“That is the one line everyone remembers from the film, when Vivian goes back with all her shopping bags to the shop assistants who wouldn’t serve her,” she says, laughing.
“It’s a fabulous line and is central to Vivian’s journey. In general terms, though, this role has been the biggest challenge because it’s the most responsibility I’ve ever had in a show and Pretty Woman is such a big sing.
“I don’t leave the stage for two-and-a-half hours, so it is a lot of responsibility, but I love it. I feel every job I have done up until now has prepared me for this role – and I also watched the film about 50 times before we even got into rehearsals.”
Hard core movie fans won’t be disappointed with the theatre version, she promises, with more comedy and music co-written by Bryan Adams, bringing a “great 80s rock-pop feel”.
“Bryan Adams actually popped into rehearsals one day and I was just gobsmacked,” she adds, putting the final touches to her make-up.
“He was really appreciative of what we were doing. When you hear the songs, I think you will feel they have a hint of Bryan Adams in them. By the end of the show, everyone will be up dancing – I guarantee it.”
And then she was off to sing big. Huge.
