Profile: behind the scenes with Disney Land Tokyo's princess Jasmine...

Avoiding stalkers at pains to let go of the make-believe, trying not to get caught messing around with your prince and the art of wig fixing so as to appear as cartoon like as possible...all in a days work for Surrey born Roxy Andreuccetti Stapleton who broke free of the Surrey surburbs to play Pocahontas, Jasmine and Belle at Disney Land Tokyo for a 6 month contract. 

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Following in the now infamous steps of Posh, Baby, Sporty, Ginger and Scary who replied to a similar advert leading them to form the unstoppable girl-power fuelled force ripe for world domination, Roxy found her arguably more surreal calling in the back pages of performance news and listings paper the Stage.

Regaling the tales of theme park mischief on her lunch break from aiding revellers to compete at karaoke from the comfort of a giant snow globe, at the much publicized 'Gatwick Factor' in the south-London terminal Roxy appears to be continuing her defiance of reality in taking up the similarly ridiculous employment of 'snow-globe host'.

So what was expected of a home counties gal when prancing around a fairytale land on the other side of the world?

An ostensibly casual 11.35am marked a strict start to the day, prompt arrival for hair and make-up application mandatory and usually taking up to 90 minutes. After a week of one-to-one tutorials explaining exactly how one achieves the look of Pocahontas's natively inherited eyebrows and process behind mimicking Princess Jasmine's bouffant to achieve a result as close as possible to her animated equivalent using wigs and a wide array of face colouring tools, 'face-characters' Roxy was granted permission to create the fantasy solo.

Shadowed throughout the day by a 'captain,' to ensure safety and allocate designated breaks the days work as human prop began. Floating around the amusement park with necessary wide-toothed grin in tow and home whitened after encountering the pearly shines of her Californian peers also flown to Tokyo for their western features, primary duties for the day were simply to provide photo opportunities, although none without their own strict set of rules and regulations. Within the mystical confinements of the park, or 'on set' as Roxy tells it, every word had to be character appropriate and the Disney dream of positive inclusion extending so far as to favour turning your back on a guests' request for their tenth photo opportunity, rather than uttering a reluctance to comply. The much loved Japanese peace sign was strictly forbidden, along with the holding of peoples possessions, children or the dare to claim that you'll see someone soon.

Seemingly recession-proof, the third most visited theme park in the world has shown better share value than ever during recent turbulent times, emerging as a popular stay-cation venue for Japanese families and student groups alike. Pledging the provision of a “happy and enchanted land of fantasy and adventure” where guests find plenty of “joy, laughter and imagination in a magical kingdom” behind the scenes they ran a tight ship. 'Head' characters donning full skull covering regalia like the parks host Mickey and our very own (pinched!) Winnie the Pooh, were under scrupulous orders only to remove their 'heads' in designated rooms so as to ensure the fantasy reigns as true as possible not just for paying visitors, but for the hoards of ride operators and confectionery attendants all as obsessed with the Disney dream as those for whom they make it happen. Roxy is at pains to remember ever spying a 'headless' character for herself, although remains very much aware of the consequence of removing even a glove of her own in the wrong area.

Arguing and answering back to those more senior than yourself was simply not done, the culture of this unrivalled hierarchy perhaps a contribute to its huge profits amid rife unemployment and plunging commerce elsewhere. “Rehearsals meant as many as it takes, which could be until 4am as they only happened during closing time. Everyone was huge Disney geeks though, which I loved, so positive and upbeat so there weren't too many complaints.”

Afternoons meant parades, a sea of floats snaking through the adventure zones, where Roxy could be found practising carefully choreographed waves, smiles and confetti distribution to a sea of visitors, in which the majority of beaming faces were season ticket holders rather than first timers, though any favouritism strictly forbidden. “The only thing I'd really get in trouble for was improvising new moves on the floats with my Aladdin or Prince Charming, the crowd actually preferred it when we showed a bit of panache but impromptu ballroom dancing wasn't really in the job description.” Hot summers in the southern hemisphere took their toll on parade performers, where it was wasn't uncommon for wheel chairs to be waiting for exhausted dancers.

Overwhelming appreciation felt by Disney enthusiasts in the east meant that while modern apartments provided by Disney sat just one train stop away, it was important to travel in groups so as to avoid any awkward confrontations and in some instances stalking like tenancies from fans. Usually translating to inappropriate present giving, and harmless camera clutching from loiterers around the living complex hoping to document Pocahontas on her day off. Comfortable accommodation was filled with all singing, dancing and waving individuals playing the full spectrum of characters drafted from the west for their cartoon-like resemblance, eating, working and socializing together culminating into a pseudo university experience that many return to year after year, the eldest Roxy encountered being an engaged 32 year-old Mary Poppins.

With a last minute sweep of blusher and the remnants of lunch in the bin, before returning to the holiday embarking karaoke revellers, Roxy is pensive but optimistic about her future “I know I can't pretend to be a princess forever but I've got to go back next year.” What exactly Princess Jasmine's happily-ever-after entails remains to be seen...