"My Heart Will Go On", "I Surrender"... From April 24th to June 22, 2025, the most famous songs of Celine Dion will ring out within the walls of the Lido de Paris. For two months, the musical Titanic, one of the biggest off-Broadway hits, is setting up shop in France to reintroduce audiences to the story of James Cameron's movie Titanic from a whole new angle. This time, get ready to see Celine Dion take the reins of the story and experience a wonderfully musical and humorous moment. Tied to this story, preparation for the role, adaptation for the French audience... Astrid Harris, the performer of the iconic Franco-Canadian singer, reveals to us the behind-the-scenes secrets of the sparkliest show of the spring!
« In my mind, I imagine that Celine Dion is in the audience every night, and I definitely don’t want to upset her. I want to be true to her essence. »
How did you hear about the musical Titanic?
I first heard about it from my friends who had gone to New York and saw it there. The musical only recently arrived in London, and at the time, I just knew it was a show around Celine Dion. But my friends came back saying, “Oh my God, you would become addicted to what we just saw. You would be perfect for this, it’s you, you wouldn’t even need to act, you would just be yourself on stage.” They tried to explain the story to me, and now that I have seen it and know what happens, I understand why I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about; it’s so crazy! I eventually saw it in London, and in January, I received an email from my agent saying they wanted to see me for this show! I just remember saying... « I'll be there ». It was super exciting !
©Julien Benhamou
Were you a fan of the movie Titanic by James Cameron, which the show is based on?
I first watched the movie with my grandmother when I was pretty small, just 6 years old. I was really scared. Can boats sink? I remember crying, not understanding what was happening. I also remember being completely obsessed with Kate Winslet; I thought she was so beautiful and wanted to be her – and of course, Leonardo DiCaprio too. After that, I was terrified of boats, I couldn't even get close to one. I just thought all boats sank, which is quite ironic because I later worked on cruise ships for 7 years. But I did it, and now it's behind me.
Your character doesn’t exist in the movie. Is that difficult...
It’s so interesting because all the other characters in the show talk to each other on stage, they go through intense emotional arcs, they fall in love, and then there's the ship sinking, the reunions… I mainly address the audience, coming in already knowing what’s going to happen. There are moments when Céline is moved by what’s happening on stage, and those are my favorite moments of the show. But witnessing the action unfold, being completely immersed in it, then suddenly having to step back... it’s a balance to find. When I read the script for the first time, I realized I had never played a character like this, one who knows everything. She’s almost like a goddess. I don’t have to embody an already existing movie character – which is a plus – but I still have to portray a real person, which is a...ssez intimidating. In my mind, I imagine Céline Dion is in the audience every night, and I definitely don’t want to offend her. I want to stay true to her essence. She’s really funny, we’ve all seen her do completely crazy things, and I hope my way of interpreting her does her justice, both as a person and as an artist.
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©Julien Benhamou
« Finding that subtle boundary between Astrid and Céline is quite a challenge! »
How do you prepare to interpret Céline Dion?
Before the rehearsals started, I think I watched absolutely all the videos of Céline Dion that exist. We look quite a bit alike: we're both tall, a little gangly, and the way she moves her arms is very "me," in a way. I practiced mimicking how she positions her hands and how she talks. I find she is very sincere with her audience and always very humble; I absolutely have to convey that. There are obviously very recognizable things in her voice, like the way she pronounces certain vowels with her Franco-Canadian accent. I...I spent a lot of time watching her talk and copying exactly the pronunciation of each word, it was super fun, and it came together faster than I thought. I’m not doing an imitation of Celine Dion; I’m interpreting her in a specific universe, so there's also some elements of me as an actress in there. Finding that subtle boundary between Astrid and Celine is quite a challenge! I also hit the gym a lot to work on my back because in many of her songs, she is very physically grounded. I make sure my back is well-muscle-toned to keep my diaphragm in place and perform the show every night. It’s a challenge that I truly enjoy!
Does playing this role require specific vocal techniques?
Yes, there’s a sort of “muscularity” in my mouth, to hit the notes like she does. It’s also interesting because I think there are things I’ll keep for other future projects. I realize that the fa&c...cedil;on that she uses certain techniques makes singing easier, or that choosing one vowel over another enhances the sound. I come from the north of England, so my accent is naturally more back in the throat, while hers is very forward. That said, when I was a child, my dentist told me I had an unusual jaw… apparently the same one as Celine Dion’s!
Do you consider yourself a fan of Celine Dion?
Who isn’t a fan of Celine Dion (laughs)? I’m not the type to be a mega fan, I’ve never seen her in concert even though I would love to. But when I was probably 11, I made a special Celine Dion mixtape, and I wrote on it “Astrid's divas” (Astrid’s divas, editor's note). It had 5 Celine Dion songs, then Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Christina Aguilera. I spent"All by Myself" on repeat. We lived in a tiny house, which drove my mom completely crazy. I'm really honored that I'm trusted with this repertoire because it’s incredibly challenging. You can't sing them halfway; everyone expects a grand "Céline Dion" experience.
©Julien Benhamou
How did the meeting with the other cast members go ?
I had heard about most of them because they are well-known in the West End. The only one I had already met was Jessica Aubrey, who plays Rose. We first connected at the audition and hit it off right away; we even went to see a show together in London. Honestly, they are all so nice and a bit crazy, that I feel like I’ve known them forever. Everyone seems to have the same sense of humor, which is essential for putting on a show like this, but also the same awareness that “we’re singing Celine Dion songs, and that’s something special”. It’s really nice to have this camaraderie.
«& Now that I live here, I find that the French actually have a bolder sense of humor than that of the United Kingdom. »
There are improvised parts in the show. How do you manage this aspect of the show ?
It makes me a little nervous (laughs) ! It depends a lot on the audience in the room that night, what they’re going to catch and what I’m going to give them. It’s terrifying to imagine, but when I’m on stage, I don’t find it scary. The hardest part is remembering that the rest of the show has to go on, and I can’t talk to them for 15 minutes ! It’s super fun because there’s a moment in the show where the improvisation involves the actors playing Jack and Rose. I have to make them do some wacky stuff that they don’t know about in advance. It’s not in the script; these are things we discussed beforehand and deemed effective for a French audience, for me, and for the actors. I do it.When we get up on stage, they look at me as if to say, “What is she going to make us do?” That’s the whole fun of the stage, because with the audience, we are all part of the joke.
©Julien Benhamou
You had to adapt to the French sense of humor!
Yes! I was a bit apprehensive when I found out it was going to be in France. I thought to myself, “Do the French know how to laugh?”. Now that I live here, I actually find that the French have a bolder sense of humor than the UK. And the fact that Titanic is the most-watched movie in France, along with Celine Dion being somewhat of a goddess here, I don’t think there’s a recipe that could work better in Paris.
Speaking of which, the Lido is one of the few Parisian theaters that offers shows that have been big hits on/off Broadway. Do you think it’s necessary to bring this cultural element to France?
I really think it’s important, because we don’t exist in an echo chamber of what’s produced in our region. It’s exciting when something that creates a buzz eventually makes its way to where we are, and we can see our own version. I think the biggest challenge in France comes purely from the language barrier. Especially in this show, where there are a lot of cultural references, we had to adjust and test to see if they work with a French audience. That’s what makes it unique!
What has been your best experience so far ?
Can I say the pastries (laughs) ? No, I think it’s the whole cast. From the second day of rehearsal, we quickly realized that everyone was really talented. Each person has at least their own song, characters that you wouldn’t necessarily think they could pull off, but when they sing, everyone really shines. People are going to come thinking they’re...attendant to see a Celine Dion show and leave having witnessed people who are true stars on stage. There's a big age difference among the cast, and it's wonderful to see West End veterans in these roles. They're at a point in their careers where they can choose anything, but they want to do Titanic because it's fun and there's something really intimate about this show. It's like they’re connecting with the audience every time, living an experience with them. I just hope they’ll share this experience with me.
In a few words, why do you think Titanic is a must-see show?
You should come to see the show because the audience will enjoy the music they love, the movie they adore, and they will fall in love with the musical. They'll feel like it’s their two favorite things combined, and they'll leave with .>an unforgettable memory. They will laugh, cry, and be awestruck by the performances.
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©Julien Benhamou
Words collected and translated from English by Lucie Guerra
Titanic
Théâtre du Lido
116, avenue des Champs-Élysées — 8th
Until June 22, 2025
More info
