Kerry Katona cast as Marilyn Monroe in new musical

Norma Jeane The Musical is written by Belvedere Pashun, whose new show WAG! The Musical, about the lives of footballers’ other halves, premieres at Charing Cross Theatre tonight (24 July 2013).

Producer Karen Struel-White said: “There were only a handful of performers that the writer would even contemplate for the role of Marilyn Monroe and right at the top was Kerry Katona.”

She added that the script is “no ordinary bio-drama” and will take “a new route into the personal history of Marilyn based on little known facts from her life”.

Tabloid favourite Katona, who has been troubled by drug addiction and financial problems since rising to fame with girl group Atomic Kitten, said she was “thrilled” to be cast as “one of the world’s biggest female icons”.

She added: “A successful career in drama has always been a main goal of mine and this role is a challenge but one I’m going to grab with both hands.”

Norma Jeane The Musical will have a rehearsed reading before an invitation-only industry audience on 22 September in London.