‘I want to make my mark’: Aussie pop star Samantha Jade to star in Pretty Woman The Musical

Pop singer Samantha Jade has been booked to play the iconic lead of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman The Musical, set to hit the stage next year.

Samantha Jade will perform the lead role in the stage adaptation of Pretty Woman. Picture: Lachie Millard

Pop singer Samantha Jade will play the iconic lead role in Pretty Woman The Musical.

Jade will play sassy street walker, Vivian Ward, a character based on the classic 1990 movie that catapulted Julia Roberts to superstardom.

It is Jade’s first-ever role in musical theatre.

“I’m honestly grateful,” Jade said. “I went into the first audition thinking, ‘Well, this is something I can say I’ve done’ which is, try out for a musical. I didn’t think I’d get the role. I never thought musical theatre was meant for me. It wasn’t a thing I did.”

Samantha Jade says Pretty Woman is her ‘comfort movie’ and that she wants to make the lead role ‘about strength’. Picture: Lachie Millard

Samantha Jade is ready to channel Julia Roberts in the musical adaptation of Pretty Woman.

Jade won the reality singing show, X Factor, in 2012. Her pop career has racked up 91 million streams worldwide, including the hit single Shake That with US rapper Pitbull. She was also runner-up on the 2024 season of Dancing With The Stars.

“Dancing With The Stars was a new challenge for me,” she said. “With Pretty Woman, I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s challenge a bit more’.”

Samantha Jade won X Factor in 2012. Picture: Channel 7

Pretty Woman The Musical echoes the unlikely romance between Ward and corporate raider Edward Lewis, who was played in the film version by Richard Gere.

“Pretty Woman is a comfort movie for me. I literally know every line in the film,” Jade said.

“I want to make my mark in this stage version, and make this role about strength. Vivian really steps into her power in Pretty Woman.”

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.

Pretty Woman opens in Brisbane in October. It is expected to play in Melbourne in 2026.

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