Kym Marsh talks about her marriage to Jack, wanting another child and being proud of her curves...
Kym Marsh is bouncing back from her hell in Hear'Say (the first band to emerge from the reality TV pop-show phenomenon) and the ending of her solo pop career, to be a huge success in musical theatre - hooray! Now starring as lovelorn Annette in Saturday Night Fever, Kym welcomed us to the Apollo Victoria Theatre, to explain how life, post-pop, is sweeter than ever before...
You seem pretty settled here - how are you enjoying the experience of being in the theatre?
I love it but its difficult! I've had to work really hard on the show - I wasn't a dancer before. I put the hours in and everyone involved with the show has been so kind and spent a lot of time helping me out.
Sounds like your all very close...
I know every one of the cast personally, and we go out together and to each others houses. I've made a lot of friends and thats a big thing for me. I've been in London four years now, and the only people I really knew before were the members of Hear'Say and my husband Jack (Ryder, ex-'Ender Jamie Mitchell). Because I was working solidly, I never had time to make friends - so coming here every day and working with the same people has been lovely.
When I first arrived, I think people had their ideas about what I might be like - from what they'd read. I think a lot of people thought I'd be a three headed monster in a fur coat, and because I'm not like that we've all become close.
Maybe not being in the pop world is a blessing in disguise?
Family life is much better, as I can get my children, David and Emily, ready for school. I don't have to be at the theatre untill 6pm, and I can do other work in the day. Theatre work is all about singing and performing, and you get to do it every day. Its not like the popstar lifestyle of sitting in a car or on a plane, then singing for two minutes.
Doesn't sound like you miss it much!
I certainly wouldn't want to be in the pop industry at the moment - its such a horrible business. When I found out my record label had dropped me, of course I was upset - pop music was what I always wanted to do. But with hindsight, it was for the best. I've found something I enjoy, something where I can learn something different. And it means I can spend more time with Jack and the children.
Do you and Jack make time for yourselves?
Yes we do. The children go to see their dad every other weekend, so thats the time Jack and I can spend by ourselves. I'll get home saturday night after the show and we have a curry or something - and occassionally, we'll get the candles out and I'll get the Agent Provocateur undies on!
Sounds like a baby could be on the cards?
Jack and I would like a child together, but its not quite the best time at the moment. He's getting ready to do pantomime in Canterbury, and that'll be fun for him. Jack says he's got so much to learn from doing it, which is a great attitude.
He's had loads of people saying he left Eastenders because he thought he was bigger than the show, but thats rubbish - he left because it was time to leave. Jack was lucky to get the gig there straight after school, and now he's living the life of a real actor - going to auditions. Hopefully there's something big in the pipeline for him next year.
You're very supportive of each other aren't you?
When I left Hear'Say, I was very much on my own. Jack was the one who kept me sane. He was still on 'Enders every day, working hard, and I didn't work for a good year - I found it quite lonely. The good part was being with the children, but its important to have friends outside the family, and now that's really happening for me. We are friendly with the parents from my children's schools, and Duncan James is a neighbour!
What do you think of The X Factor?
We watch it in the dressing room between our two saturday shows. I don't know what the judges are looking for - it seems people with better voices didn't even get through to the next round and you wonder why. There's obviously an agenda, something else they're looking for, and its not talent - that's all I can say! Shows like X Factor and Popstars are all about image and fitting in. I heard Louis Walsh saying something like: 'Which act will the public like more - which are they going to vote for?' And I thought the second series of Popstars was sad, as the race between One True Voice and Girls Aloud for the christmas number one seemed to be the only thing people cared about, instead of the bands careers.
Your contract with Saturday Night Fever ends in january - what do you think you'll do next?
I'm not sure, but I want to stay in musical theatre, here or in another show. I was surprised to get this show, so I'd like to audition for others.
I would also like to do a stint in a soap! Coronation Street is my favourite, and that's the one I'd go for - it has worked for Keith Duffy. Suranne Jones is leaving, and I'd love to take over. Tracy Barlow needs someone to stand up to her!
The show is great for the figure - I'd dropped a lot of weight at the start, but its started to even off now. I'd love to be offered a great modelling job - doing a sexy undies campaign would be fantastic, and Jack would love it! Well, maybe not - pictures of me in my undies everywhere would be weird.
Actually, I just did a shoot for a lad's mag, and I felt a bit more confident than the one I did with Suzanne and Myleene, when we were in Hear'Say. I wasn't ever very big, but I was made out to be enormous. The three of us were always clear that we had boobs and bums - what difference does it make?