A-list movie star Kevin Costner has revealed valuable insight from the set of The Bodyguard, where Whitney Houston was asked to play by one specific rule – leaving behind her entourage.
Having never ventured into the movie world before, The Bodyguard presented a huge untapped opportunity for music icon Whitney Houston back in the early 90s. But, in order to nurture the star into the acting world, Houston was forced to follow one unique rule – laid down by her co-star Kevin Costner.
Kevin Costner set strict rule for Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard set
Speaking to GQ about his most iconic roles, Costner let us in on what it was like working with the late Houston back in 1992. Costner, who helped produce the movie alongside his iconic role as the bodyguard Frank Farmer, revealed that he watched several “really good” actresses audition before Houston, but found that “none of them fit”.
Upon seeing Houston try out for the part, Costner knew he had found his lead – but was wary of the fact he had to nurture somebody with limited acting experience.
“You’re going to need to trust me,” said Costner to the Higher Love singer, “but you’re not going to have an entourage. I don’t have one, and you’re not gonna have one”
Elaborating on the rule implied on Houston, Costner added: “I said ‘If there’s a person that’s important to you, that person can be on the set, but nobody else’. And she trusted that, and that’s how Bodyguard (worked).”
Everybody wanted Houston to be at her best
The point of the no entourage rule was to promote trust on the set, Costner explained, and to help the Hollywood debutant get the most out of her big screen breakthrough.
“It was just about knowing she could trust me,” explained Costner, “that my whole intention was for her to look good and she desperately wanted to – we all did.”
And look good Houston did. While sneering critics rubbished the acting in the movie, The Bodyguard has gone on to boast one of the most iconic music scenes in movie history which, as it transpires, Costner played a part in.
According to the interview, the Field of Dreams Star was responsible for the bold creative decision to start Houston’s rendition of I Will Always Love You a cappella.
“When you wanna impress, you get all the bells and whistles, right?”, explained Costner. “But think about an apology… I don’t need music to tell you that I love you, that I wanna apologize to you, that you did something for me.
“Of course, the music kicked in after, but it was so much more powerful for her (Houston) to start without the music.”
And of course, the Dolly Parton cover would go on to be one of the biggest songs of all time and a foundational hit for Houston – acapella intro and all.
When asked if Houston taught him to sing anything, Costner laughed: “No one’s going to sing in front of her.”
We don’t blame you, Kev.
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