ALEXANDRA Burke is surprisingly honest when asked about the two year delay in accepting the iconic Whitney Houston role in stage musical, The Bodyguard.

 

"When I was first offered the part I wasn't ready for it," says the one-time X Factor winner.

"I wasn't in the right mental state and I felt I just wouldn't have been able to do this sort of role. My self-belief was not great and I had to get myself sorted out first."

Self-belief? From a lady who had appeared in front of a TV audience of 20m, had a No 1 million selling single Hallelujah and toured with her own stage show? Seems so.

To achieve the lacking confidence, Alexandra took off to New York for a year.

"I found myself a life coach," she explains. "I made an album in new York, but my main focus was on life coaching. And this was about me bettering myself as a person, to gain confidence in the areas I was low in.

"And it was great I did this because I've been able to do this role now and I really love it."

The lady has an incredible voice and a talent that's seen here described as 'The British Beyonce.' Yet, those looking on don't appreciate she is as fragile as everyone else. This was highlighted when she split from footballer partner Jermain Defoe (after he cheated on her). It took her months and lots of red wine to get over the heartbreak.

However, life coaching brought her back to a point of confidence.

"People are shocked when they hear about my confidence issues," she says. "But I had personal stuff to get sorted out.

"And of course this industry is so up and down. If I get knocked I react because I'm only human. But what I have had to do is learn not to take things too personally."

The 26 year-old adds; "I'm always looking to ways to better myself in life. In every way."

That doesn't mean Alexandra is no longer anxious about her performances in this revamped touring production of the Bodyguard.

"It's a lot of pressure because every night is a different audience. And I get nervous before every show. But that's because I care. Nerves is a good thing, I need to be sure things feel right."

The Bodyguard of course is based on the 1992 movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston which tells the story of Rachel Marron, the Oscar-nominated music superstar whose life is threatened and has to hire a bodyguard.

Whitney Houston's performance won her accolades throughout the industry, but of course her untimely tragic death revealed how difficult the showbiz journey can be.

"It did," says Alexandra. "That's why, for me, it's always about trying to remain grounded, to remember where I've come from.

"Now, when something strikes, anything becomes too heated or overwhelming I remember that I'm the little girl from Islington who's now living the dream. It's my family that keeps my feet firmly on the ground."

She adds; "I don't take a thing for granted, I realise that tomorrow is never promised and the downside is what it is."

Does her mum (singer Melissa Bell) ever have cause to say 'Alexandra, you're being a little bit of a diva?'

"Never," she says, grinning. "I'd never get away with that c*** with my mum. For example, one time, I was at my mum's house and had a cup of tea in the living room, then left.

"I was actually on the A1 heading home when she called to tell me to come back and clean my cup. That's my mum. I'm well managed."

Ms Burke isn't one for living life on the edge of the celebrity cliff.

"Not at all," she says. "You'll never see pics of me falling out of a club drunk. It's just not who I am. In ten years time I don't want my kids to see these pics and be full of regret."

How does she indulge herself?

"I have a glass of red wine at the weekend," she says, grinning. "I don't drink during the week because I have to look after my voice with this show. And if I do go clubbing you can guarantee some of my family go along with me."

She adds, grinning; "If I've got an indulgence, it's shoes and handbags."

Alexandra will break off from the Bodyguard tour in May when she returns to New York to record her album. (Her new EP Renegade is out next month).

Meantime, she's genuinely loving touring with the show.

"During rehearsals I said to the cast; 'I can't wait to go on the tour bus with everyone.' And they said 'What tour bus? This isn't the Alexandra Burke Show, it's the Bodyguard. We make our own way to the venues.'

"And I thought 'Yes, that's true. It's not my show. But you know something, that's great."

* The Bodyguard, the King's Theatre, March 4-14.