The [LGBTI] community are the loudest and always right behind me: Paulini

Paulini is bringing Whitney Houston’s classic film The Bodyguard to life onstage in Australia. Matthew Wade caught up with the singer about their shared love of her music.

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WHEN Australian songstress Paulini was growing up, her two older sisters would play Whitney Houston songs incessantly.

“I was always surrounded by Whitney’s music and when I was ten years old, I saw The Bodyguard on VHS and fell in love with it,” she says.

“It was great to see a strong woman take on a role like that, and you could say the role she was playing was her in real life.

“And the soundtrack is definitely one of my all-time favourites.”

Her affinity for the film and Houston’s iconic voice when she was younger may have developed a long time ago, but flash forward to 2017 and Paulini is now playing the role Whitney made famous herself in the Australian production based on the nineties film.

She says she originally saw the production on the West End in London, and told her manager if it were to ever come to Australia, she’d love to be considered.

“At the end of last year I was contacted to audition and here we are,” she laughs.

The show, which has already had its run in Sydney and is gearing for an upcoming Brisbane and Melbourne season, features all of Houston’s classic songs from The Bodyguard along with plenty of others in her legendary repertoire.

Paulini says the music, which has always had a solid LGBTI fan base [along with many other powerhouse vocalists of the time like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion], has always resonated with people worldwide because of its unrivalled sound.

She believes the LGBTI community always follow amazing voices.

“They love to hear these amazing singers,” she says.

“And the community has always been so good to me. They’re the loudest and the ones right behind me.

“I’d been out of the limelight for quite a long time, but to be reminded how much the LGBTI community are behind me and the show is something I always hold close.”

Though it’s a difficult feat, Paulini says she can pinpoint her favourite Houston song: Run To You.

The heartfelt lyrics make it a vulnerable song, and one she loves to belt in the show.

“It’s a sad song that I think emotionally touches everyone, and they can connect with it.

“I think audiences coming along to the show can expect amazing singing and dancing, and Whitney’s amazing repertoire intertwined.”

For more information on The Bodyguard tour and for dates visit: www.thebodyguardmusical.com.au