I will enchant you, says the superstar

BETWEEN her last West End appearance and her first on Broadway, Nicole Scherzinger comes to Henley.

The award-winning American singer, actress and dancer will open the Henley Festival next month.

It will be her only appearance in the UK, apart from her performances as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Boulevard of Twilight in London, which she has just finished, before continuing her work at the St. James Theatre in New York in the autumn.

The 45-year-old former Pussycat Doll won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Desmond, a reclusive, ageing former film star, at the Savoy Theatre.

“This is the role of a lifetime that I’ve been waiting for,” she says. “But I had no idea I was waiting for it, and it’s changed my life, you know?

“It changed the way people see me and it was such a beautiful, brilliant, really amazing process and one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

“What a blessing for us to be recognized and acknowledged and now I get to make my Broadway debut as Norma.
Desmond. I’m very excited to be going to New York because it’s always been my childhood dream to play on Broadway and now I’m making my debut there.”

Before she leaves for Manhattan, Nicole is busy preparing for her performance on the “floating” stage in Henley, her first visit to the city.

“I’ve heard it’s a pretty upscale area,” says the Hawaii-born star. “I think that’s really cool. Coming from America, I love this tradition of everyone being dressed up. I feel like I’m in a Woody Allen movie where everyone is maybe going back in time.”

“I’ve never done a show like this in the UK before and I’ve heard that they love singing together and having fun. A lot of my relatives and friends have bought tickets and are coming so I’m really excited.

“I want it to be a wonderful time for everyone, so I’m literally putting my set together. I’m doing what I love, which is singing the music I love, not just my own stuff, but some of my favorite songs. I’m actually learning some new songs as well as some classics, some covers and some anthems that people can sing along to.

“One of my favorites is I have enchanted you and I love to sing Purple Rain but I’m also looking forward to trying some new things.

“I haven’t decided on a setlist yet because I want to jam with my band, but we’ll maybe play around with Kings of Leon a bit, some ABBA, Queen, possibly Led Zeppelin, really fun stuff.

“I know the best way to express myself is through music. So I’m going to sing songs that I hope everyone knows and loves, and it’s going to be a really good, fun time.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to look around on the day because when the sun is shining you can’t beat England. We’re so blessed when it’s summer. I get to perform at this beautiful festival that I’ve never been to before and my friends and family are going to make it a great day.”

Nicole, who is engaged to former Scottish rugby international Thom Evans, says she is “excited” to be going home but has enjoyed her time in London. “I was born in Hawaii, grew up in Kentucky and now live in Los Angeles,” she says.

“London is a special city and has been so good and supportive throughout the whole process.

“I’m engaged, but I’m currently trying to get everything in order before I move to New York City.

“My time here in the West End was four months, but my time there will be over nine months, so I need to focus on that and then I can focus on the wedding.”

Nicole, who turns 46 in a week, wants to make sure her big day goes smoothly because she thinks way too much.

“I got that from my mother,” she says. “I worry and I’m stressed and I also go into extreme detail because I feel like if it’s not the best or the biggest, what am I going to do?

“I have to make the most of every moment, so yes, I am a perfectionist.”

• Nicole Scherzinger will headline Henley Festival on Wednesday 10 July at 9pm. For more information and tickets visit henley-festival.co.uk/artist/nicole-scherzinger