Samantha Womack discusses body image, motherhood and the importance of spending time alone with Stylist's therapist Lisa Merrick-Lawless.
You’re about to star in the musical, South Pacific. How did you negotiate the move from TV to stage?
It’s been tricky. Nellie Forbush [Samantha’s character in the show] is so different to Ronnie Branning [in EastEnders], and it’s taken me a while to get my head around playing someone new. But it’s been great to challenge myself. It would have been easy to do a role similar to Ronnie, but I wanted to step away from her. It’s been restorative.
You have to wear a swimsuit on stage. How do you feel about your body?
Thanks for bringing up my biggest neurosis! It’s a bit scary but I hope that, when I’m in character, I won’t feel so terrified. As an actor you’re asked to do things you don’t feel comfortable with, but once you’re in that role you shouldn’t have a problem with it. That’s what I’m hoping, anyway [laughs].
During rehearsals at the Barbican in London, you’ve been living apart from your husband, actor Mark Womack, and children, Ben 10, and Lily, 6. How do you cope?
The children are having a great time with their dad, and I think it’s healthy to mix things up. Last year Mark was busy with work, so the children spent more time with me. Of course I miss them. Lily usually sleeps with me and at times I wake up, look at the empty space and go a bit misty-eyed. I’m probably more needy than my children.
Is it nice for you to have time alone?
It is. This role is all-consuming so, at the end of every day, I need time to process what I’ve learned and sometimes I do that by going for a run. I couldn’t have played this part while multitasking as much as I usually do.
Do you miss EastEnders?
I miss the financial security. As you get older you become less inclined to take chances, but taking a risk was important. I try to retain the confidence I had when I was younger, that if I work hard enough, everything will be OK.
Do you struggle to retain that confidence of youth?
Like every other woman I have days when everything seems fantastic and I feel optimistic. But I get darker moments at night time when I lie awake worrying about finance. It’s the same for everyone.
Was it tricky returning to work after taking two years off in 2001, when you had your first child?
I had worked for years without a break, so I was relieved to get off the treadmill. Afterwards, I had to reinvent myself a bit and I went back to theatre. I played parts I wouldn’t have before, such as Adelaide in the musical Guys And Dolls. Before having my children, work came to me easily but after them I had an even greater appetite to succeed.
Do you have a rebellious streak?
I partied like any teenager, but most of my friends would agree that I was really quite cautious. I only ever did one lads’ mag shoot and that was FHM. It was during the era of the ‘ladette’ when women like myself were labelled as ‘wild’. It was pure media fabrication.
As a child you spent time on board the QE2 with your grandmother, a choreographer on the ship. How did that shape you?
I was completely fascinated by it all. I’d see Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton watching a show, and my grandmother performed with Dusty Springfield. The experience gave me a thirst for travel, too. I recently went to Kenya with Comic Relief and taking yourself out of your comfort zone is really grounding. My children were fascinated by my tales from Kenya and I want them to see as much of the world as possible. Lily has her bags packed already!
South Pacific is at the Barbican, London, from 15 August, before touring nationwide
Main picture credit: Rex Features
