| Charlotte
to Reveal Secrets of a Diva
| 31
August - South Wales Echo |
Alex Lemon, South Wales Echo
CHARLOTTE Church is to reveal the secrets of her multimillion selling success to the nation as part of a new television series.
The teen singer shares her views on the highs and lows of fame and fortune, how she keeps her feet on the ground, the difficulties of having a boyfriend, coping with rumours in the media and what advice Robbie Williams had for her.
The programme, Charlotte Church: Diva, is one of a series of six master classes, in which those who have achieved success in music, drama and television pass on their words of wisdom to young stars of the future.
Other celebrities to feature include Cardiff actor Matthew Rhys, Merthyr Tydfil producer of Only Fools and Horses Gareth Gwenlan, and NYPD Blue writer David Milch.
Cardiff- based film- maker Karl Francis talked to the 16-year-old millionairess at the Sherman Theatre in front of an audience of more than 200 pupils of Stagecoach performing arts school.
In the interview she told the audience how she and her music have moved on from her first album, Voice of an Angel.
"My wings have gone into hiding now, they've gone since I was 12," she said.
"I want to find my own kind of musical style that's different from everybody else. I think that's what makes a great artist."
Charlotte reveals she feels "cursed and blessed" by her musical talent.
"Fame has made me more cynical - it makes you think people aren't as good and bright and rosy as you thought, but it has made me more confident. You learn to appreciate both lives. The fame life has huge advantages and disadvantages, and real life does but I tend to keep the two separate." Karl, who directs and presents the series of interviews, admits he was impressed by Charlotte's intelligence and attitude.
"She struck me as someone who wasn't just a very good singer but has a clear personality and a clear view of her life. She's very aware of what's happening to her as a person and that self-knowledge is a very valuable asset," he said.
"She was great with the children and extremely patient. She was hugely popular. She wasn't pulling any punches but we had a bit of fun too."
* Charlotte Church: Diva is on BBC Two Wales on Tuesday at
10pm.
| Charlotte tells stagestruck youngsters how to get on in showbiz
|
29
August - South Wales Echo |
CHARLOTTE Church can't bottle the secrets of her success, but she can share her experiences and best practical tips.
In the first of Cardiff film-maker Karl Francis's new series of televised master classes, the teenage soprano reveals the story behind her soaring singing voice and talks frankly about dating boys, how tired she gets of the "Voice of an Angel" tag and the advice pop star Robbie Williams gave her on the price of fame.
"Everything in the entertainment business is so image based which is so sad because you don't need a lot of talent, you just need to look good," she says in the BBC Wales programme Charlotte Church: Diva.
"On the surface it looks glamorous but it does come with a lot of hard work and pressure and fame makes you very vulnerable." Recorded at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff before an audience of intrigued young performers from the Stagecoach Acting School, she reveals who her idol is, how she forget her words when singing in front of the Pope, meeting Anne Robinson, her ambitions to sing with R&B star Craig David - "just because he's gorgeous - why not?" - and recalls hogging the stage at the age of three.
And singing, "It's always quite hard and emotionally draining."
Charlotte Church: Diva, BBC 2 Wales and BBC 2W, September 3 at 10pm.
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