Nicole Scherzinger discusses 'Sunset Boulevard' role

That is one of two right there one of the biggest movies of the year the voice you just heard Can also be heard on Broadway eight times a week in Sunset Boulevard, and she's here right now. Please welcome Nicole Scherzer So you you're starting the reimagination of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic for people who haven't seen it yet Just tell them the story tell them about this tape Okay, well the story of Sunset Boulevard is the critique of Hollywood's treatment of aging women It's about the industry's obsession with youth But led by our fearless Visionary director Jamie Lloyd we have an entire new interpretation and reimagining. That's a very minimal and Modern but at the same time very powerful and dramatic And it's unlike any any audience has ever experienced or seen before I could say my wife Allie saw it and said Completely blown away Thanks, Allie Congratulations are in store for you because you you won the Olivier Award Which is the equivalent of the Tony's for British Tony's here for best actress in a musical role and the musical for this role But you said it made you go toe-to-toe with your insecurities Yes, because it's such a very modern stripped-back interpretation of this story You know, I don't have the security of the normal hair and makeup and wardrobe or lighting And it just brings out. I think you have it because of that You really need because you don't have the sets and the props and everything You have to really lean into the audience and connect with them That's what we're there for right is to connect and move people and make a difference in order to do that You kind of have to strip everything away inside and be able to show the deepest darkest parts of you leave the vanity at the door and yeah I test I kind of go really really deep and get as raw honest as possible to tell her It's extremely vulnerable especially because we've incorporated cinematography so we have Cameras on stage with this a lot of the times we have like a 65 foot screen Oh wow And so it's like I've never seen we've never seen what we look like on the screen because our director doesn't want us to see Anything he just wants it always to emanate honestly from within but yeah, I mean, it's it is very vulnerable But it's it's been so rewarding to let it all go. I've it's been such a healing and cathartic Transformative process for me to be like to not care More about like really being Ultimately the most honestly expressive and and how I feel because that's when you're able to really connect Yeah, people on a deeper level. I want to talk about the music you've you've Delved into Andrew Lloyd Webber's music before with cats and with phantom What do you think it is about your voice and his music that works so well for you? Oh my gosh I don't know. I think Andrew is just he is such a huge part of the DNA of musical theater and he has these big huge memorable iconic songs So I'm like give it to me New life yeah into that and it's it's always an honor to work with him He's championed me most of my life and I'm just so grateful And he's just I think Sunset Boulevard is one of his greatest masterpieces I'm glad and grateful that we get to breathe our new life to it for a new audience I mean Ali's review is great Patti LuPone Patti LuPone her review of you and she knows that role of course extremely well She said you broke her heart and that you are a force. Oh my gosh, I grew up Loving and admiring Admiring and just I'm getting nervous just thinking about her. I've loved Patti LuPone I I loved Whitney Houston growing up for my pop side, but for musical theater It was Patti LuPone. And I mean for someone of her stature to be able to even come and see our show She originated the role and to give me such high praise to give the overall production such high praise It's just it's such a gift and I never want to let her down This is big year Broadway, we have another big debut coming up later this year Carnegie Hall, what can people expect? Are you kidding me? Okay, so a lot of people don't know that I grew up loving musical theaters So this is like a childhood dream to do Broadway Check that off the bucket list and now Carnegie Hall One of the most iconic legendary stages in the most iconic legendary cities in the entire world. It's a dream come true And I'm gonna make sure Everything Be a night to remember Will is there any chance we could see special guests as in pussycat dolls? Oh, I don't know. I haven't thought because I'm in normal and right now I'm so committed to making every night a closing and opening night performance for every person I haven't even thought that far in advance, but okay fair. No. Yeah I like that you have to compartmentalize because you're giving this role I mean, I'm exhausted just thinking about it how you just leave it out there always so early Thank you for coming All of you don't can see Nicole and sunset Boulevard now at the st. James Theatre on Broadway through July 13th She's gonna perform live for us just ahead