We had a number one album again
and broke box office records. We’re all
massively grateful to everyone who made
it possible and came and supported us!
I feel very lucky to have Steps in my life
but it’s not a job we can do permanently.
It’s a 24/7 commitment when it’s up and
running which isn’t fair on our partners,
families or children. Plus we all live so
far away from each other (especially with
Lisa in Dubai) it’s a mission to get us
available at the same time let alone in the
same room! We haven’t split as a band
and we all talk regularly. We’re on what
they call a ‘hiatus’ and I do believe we
will go back on tour again at some point!
in ‘Celebrity 4 Weddings’. She is the salt
of the earth. A wonderful, caring lady.
We got on straight away. She’s very easy
to get on with and a great fun! You can’t
help but like her. We have spoken a few
times since but it’s difficult in our industry
to keep in touch with everyone you meet.
It doesn’t help that we live so far apart. If
we were local, I think we’d be really good
friends.
Have you been to Brighton often and
do you have any other Sussex links?
I have been to Brighton often! I had my
first Hen do in Brighton and so did one
of my best friends! I’ve performed at the
Brighton Theatre Royal in Me and My
Girl, Over the Rainbow and Love Shack.
I’ve played the Brighton Centre on tour
with Russell Watson and with Steps
many times!
Our management used to have a place
in Brighton and we’d come to visit for
meetings. And in the summer it was the
closest beach to London and we’d hop
on a train and get fish and chips and
come and listen to live bands on the
beach in the evening. I also recorded
with the Lo Fidelity All Stars who were
based in Brighton when I was working
on some music a few years back. My
You went on to appear on the stage,
how did you find this in comparison to
being in the group?
My life after Steps has been pretty
exciting and personally challenging in
a good way. I celebrated 10 years in
theatre last year. I started my musical
theatre career with ‘Tell me on a Sunday’
in 2004 - a one woman show which
gave me the bug. Treading the boards
is pretty daunting but highly addictive. I
get a massive buzz from performing live
and love the graft of an eight-show week.
It’s a mental and physical discipline that
I thrive on and something I had always
wanted to do since I was a child.
I’ve had some wonderful roles... Sally in
‘Me and My Girl’, Sheila Wendice in Dial
‘M’ for Murder, Eva Cassidy in ‘Over the
Rainbow’ and Lina Lamo nt in ‘Singing
in the Rain’. I’m very proud to have had
earned rave reviews and been able to
surprise the critics who were ready to
give me their worst.
I don’t think I can compare being in
Steps to being a jobbing actress.
They are two very different genres
and lifestyles. I get a lot of personal
satisfaction from my acting roles
because I feel that I grow as an actress
and singer and learn new skills. I’ve also
had the chance to work with people I
would never have crossed paths with
- Sylvester McCoy, Dillie Keane, Tony
Slattery, Trevor Banister, Mike McShane
… It’s a hard working but creative and
relaxed environment for me away from
the press and doing what I love. Steps is
very much a business and a machine. We
have to take a lot of advice from outside
parties to make the right decisions and
there’s a lot of pressure, expectation and
responsibility that goes along with it. But
I wouldn’t swap either of them!
You’ve worked with one of our
previous cover stars, Brighton-based
Carol Harrison, are you good friends?
I met Carol Harrison when we took part
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