Diana Vickers has revealed what it really takes to play an “icon” like Gwyneth Paltrow on stage.
The 33-year-old theatre star plays the Goop founder in a musical four-hander that tells the (mostly) true story of the campest celebrity trial in history: Gwyneth Paltrow vs Terry Sanderson, following a ski slope collision.
The 2023 courtroom showdown saw retired optometrist Sanderson sue Paltrow for $300,000. Paltrow countersued for $1 and the Utah court ruled in her favour.
Packed full of iconic moments such as the questions about Taylor Swift and the now famous whisper of “I Wish You Well”, former X Factor finalist Vickers won rave reviews for her portrayal at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The show is set to transfer for a limited West End run at the Criterion Theatre from September 11 until October 12.
Originally an Oscar-winning actress, Paltrow reinvented herself as a lifestyle guru in 2008 and sold a candle that was marketed as smelling like her own vagina.
Vickers says that keeping one of those candles nearby helps her to channel the essence of Paltrow.
Speaking to the Standard, she said: “I have a vagina candle on the stage that sometimes I’ll just sniff into and think ‘right!’”
“Before I go on every night I’m behind these doors and I breathe and I say to myself ‘I am Gwyneth Paltrow. I am an icon’ I literally say all of this in my head.
“I’ve been watching a lot of her movies, obviously I was a huge fan of hers and [have watched] so many TikToks of the trial. It’s just almost this constant dialogue of like when I’m on stage going ‘you’re Gwyneth Paltrow’ and a constant reminder of being an absolute icon.”
Blackburn-born Vickers says she has heard Paltrow is aware and “very curious” about the production and could be tempted to come and watch it for herself.
She explained: “She has definitely heard. I have a mutual friend of hers. I think she has been very curious. We got a really rave review in the New York Times which we were so chuffed about, it was such a big moment for us. I sent it over to my friend and he’s like ‘I’m sending it to her immediately’. That was quite good.
“I do think that there are talks with her people about her being quite curious to see it so fingers crossed.
“If she was in the audience I’d either do the best or worst show I’ve ever done, I’d obviously be self conscious. But I think with this it’s all just a bit of a parody, a bit of fun, so as long as she’s laughing and having a good time which I’m sure she will be.”
I Wish You Well - whose cast also includes Marc Antolin, Tori Allen-Martin, Idriss Kargbo - is actually the second show inspired by the trial.
Reflecting on why it makes such good source material, Vickers said: “We’re obsessed with these celebrity court cases aren’t we. Like Wagatha Christie, the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard thing, I was totally glued to this one and it’s just really silly, I’d say it’s like Saturday Night Live sort of comedy with really bloody brilliant belting musical theatre songs.
“It’s literally an hour-long so it’s an injection of fun and chaos and silliness and then before you know it, you’re like ‘oh, my, god, I want more!’”
Vickers - who teases she is currently working on a new series of her hit podcast Ki and Dee along with a third studio album - added: “As an actor these moment like the west end is up there on your wish list of things to do and I’ve done it twice before but its been a really long time.
“I’ve been working really hard these last however many years and you do things and you invest in things that don’t quite make it to London and having that pay off.
“It’s just so rewarding and even though I’m up at the crack of dawn and won’t be home until midnight you just don’t really care when you’re doing something that you just adore and love.
“It’s camp, it’s funny, it’s fabulous and you’ll just leave the theatre wanting to see it again. It’s a really fun night out like, bring your girls, bring your gays, bring your nan, it’s for everyone and it’s really fun and silly, you’ll laugh and it’s heartfelt at the same time.”
