“William and Kate – the Love Story” is the only big budget movie dramatization that tells the story of Prince William’s nine year romance with Kate Middleton.  Shot on location in California and the UK, the movie premieres on Lifetime Movies in the US on 18 April and will be released by Revolver on DVD in the UK on 25 April, just a week before the Royal Wedding.  Here British actress Laura Waddell recalls what it is like to star in the love story of the century …

How did you feel when you got the call to tell you that you would be in William and Kate? I was really excited!  I was so pleased to be able to work with Mark Rosman, the director and especially on a project about the Royals!

Can you tell us briefly about the film? It basically tells the story of William and Kate’s relationship, right from first meeting through to their engagement, so about 8 or 9 years.

We hear that you were hand picked by the director for your role. How did that come about – have you worked with him before? I had known Mark Rosman for a little while but we’d not had the chance to work together yet.  When this role came up, he thought of me, which was really lovely.  I was so excited to finally get the chance to work with him, having really respected his previous work.  I knew working with him would be brilliant as he’s a very focused but relaxed person and that translates well on set.

What is your role in the film and was it fun to play? I play Kate’s boss when she begins work at the fashion chain ‘Jigsaw’.  She’s definitely a great character to play as a lot of my previous roles have been the ‘nice’ girl!  In this I get to be a little mean which is much more fun!

Your character has an interesting relationship with Kate in the film. Can you tell us more about that? Yes they definitely have an interesting relationship.  To begin with, my character is incredibly professional and welcoming to her, as she’s glad of the publicity for Jigsaw, but underlying it is a hint of resentment at Kate’s Royal connections.  She’s a little snide to her and tries to make her feel inadequate.  Everything is said with a smile but she’s rather condescending to her!

Have you been in other films and TV? If so can you tell us what? In the UK, I worked on the BBC TV drama series ‘The Biz’, several comedy pilots and shorts and also the film ‘Making It Mean Something’ directed by BAFTA winner Rachel Tillotson.  Following my training at drama school, I went straight into the theatre in London’s West End.  Most notably, I have worked on Top Girls directed by Samuel West, Elegies at the Fortune Theatre and the UK tour of Hamlet, playing Ophelia.

You come from Berkshire but do you have any more similarities with Kate?! As you say we’re both from Berkshire but I think her life, especially now she’s marrying the Prince, is rather different from mine!  I’m quite relieved that I don’t have the pressure of being part of the Royal family.

What’s the best thing about being an actor?  And the worst?! I feel very lucky to have a career that really excites me and to actually do this for a living.  It’s fantastic when I get to work on really interesting roles and you constantly work with a range of different, talented people all the time.  The worst thing about being an actor is the flipside to the best aspects!  When you’ve just been working on a project with brilliant people and it comes to an end.  You can be on a shoot for three weeks and become really close to everyone and suddenly it’s over.

Are you fan of the Royal Family?  If so, who are you favourites? Also – have you ever met any of them?! Sadly I’ve never met any of the Royal family but I’d be very interested to!  As I’m a similar age to William, I’ve always been intrigued by what he’s done and I really admire the fact that he always keeps a very calm and pleasant demeanour despite the press constantly following him.

What do you think of William and Kate? Is Kate a lucky girl or do you think the fame and pressure will be hard to live with? I think they make a great couple.  I think Kate is lucky but she has a lot to deal with though and I don’t envy her!  There’s a lot of scrutiny and pressure from the public and probably within the family to act the right way and I think it will be difficult.  She’s handled it fantastically so far though!

We hear the film will air in the States a week before the wedding – do you know when the UK and elsewhere will get to see it? I think they’re still in talks with UK TV to see if they can screen it in the UK around the same time.  I know it will definitely be released in the UK on DVD around the 25 April.

Will it come straight to TV or is it a cinema release? It’s going straight to TV for the moment as it’s a Lifetime movie so it’ll be screened on the Lifetime channel here in the US.

Where will you watch the real Royal Wedding and who with? I’m definitely hoping to watch it!  It’s being shown on BBC America here so I have a lot of British friends here so I think we’ll all watch it together which should be fun!

Are you excited about the event – and have you bought any Royal Wedding souvenirs yet?! It is exciting as it’s a rare event!  Being British in the US has made me even more patriotic too.  I haven’t bought any souvenirs but I’d be tempted!  There’s quite a buzz about the Royal Wedding here in LA as I think American’s love the Royals.  It’s definitely exciting!

Copies of the DVD can be purchased for £13.00 at http://www.theroyalweddingwilliamkate.com/shop/

For a preview visit http://www.sevenoneinternational.com/trailer/will_kate_preview.php