The Bodyguard, one of the biggest blockbusters of the 1990s, has a new popstar at the helm.

The film has been reimagined for the stage with Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton stepping into the lead role, which was made famous on screen by singer Whitney Houston.

Melody, who sold more than 70 million albums worldwide with the girl group, will be starring as Rachel Marron, a Hollywood superstar who strikes up an epic romance with her bodyguard Frank Farmer.

"I’m really enjoying revisiting the show," says Melody, who previously took on the role in China. "Whitney Houston is also very dear to me, and what she means to Black America. What she went through as a black girl singing pop music was brave. She battled a lot of preconceived notions in the industry, and what she did for me was help to create a lane for the little black girl in the pop group.

"She is important to me in that respect, so anytime I have the opportunity to sing Whitney’s hits I’m going to do it."

The thrilling new musical is based on the 1992 film, which saw Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner pair up with chart-topping singer Whitney Houston in her first acting role.

The film became the second highest-grossing film of that year, falling short only to Disney’s animated film Aladdin, and was the tenth highest-grossing film of all time upon its release.

The soundtrack, performed primarily by Whitney, sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and two Academy Award nominations for tracks Run to You and I Have Nothing.

"My favourite number to perform is Queen of the Night, but my favourite song is All The Man That I Need," says Melody. "I watch Whitney’s live performances. She was such a master, she would find ways to hit a note, working around the difficulty."

The musical, which has now been adapted for the stage, premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in London and was nominated for four Olivier Awards.

The show has since sold out theatres across the country on a UK tour and has been performed all over the world in countries such as America, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, France and Italy.

The Bodyguard will be at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford from Monday, March 27 to Saturday, April 1. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling the theatre on 03433 100033.