Donna Marie- #MyGagaLife
Despite regularly imitating one of the biggest celebrities of the past decade, renowned Lady Gaga impersonator Donna Marie is remarkably down-to-earth. Ahead of her new show, #MyGagaLife, Donna reminisces about how she got started. “I had thought about impersonating another actor many years ago, but I didn’t really sound or look like anyone. Then she came along and there it was.”
Donna originally began her act after a Lady Gaga-themed night at a friend’s club. “People kept saying to me, ‘oh my God you look so much like Lady Gaga. I went back there a month later and had my first show. I had three costumes, two dancers and it all just went from there.”
The crazy outfits are certainly a large part of Lady Gaga’s appeal and Donna is no stranger to the difficulty of putting them together. She starts laughing; “I’ve probably spent about 50 to 60 grand on costumes. I’ve got about 50 to 60 costumes in the house.”
“If you imitate anyone, it helps if you look like them. Gaga’s recognised for her costumes so the costumes are a huge must. I try and get her mannerisms as well. People do recognise those things and the closer you can get to them then the more people feel like they’re watching them.”
The huge success of A Star Is Born has also affected the act. “It’s really made a difference. It’s catapulted her career back up, and what’s nice is that it’s brought a range of new fans to her.”
Even though she clearly loves what she does, Donna’s clear about what separates her from Lady Gaga. “I’m a mum and a wife, and I have four dogs. I still have to clean and brush my teeth and do all the normal things. Every day is about Gaga, but I also have a family and I try and make time to catch up with my friends.”
words George Foster
#MyGagaLife, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Sat 20th Apr. Tickets: from £15. Info: 029 2063 6464/ www.wmc.org.uk/