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Why Helena feels so at home
Hi Helena. How's it going?
"It's going well, thanks. We're in Glasgow at the moment, but we've been going since last August and the audiences have been great. They seem to have loved it."
What do you love about South Pacific?
"Well, it's Rodgers & Hammerstein, isn't it?!
It's such a classy show and has always been a favourite."
And what's so special about your character, Nellie Forbush?
"It's a great part for me, it's challenging. There's a lot of singing and it's different from most musical theatre roles. She goes on a massive emotional journey."
How are you finding working with a real musical theatre stalwart like Dave Willetts?
"Brilliant, he's been a real help. They're a great group of people. I've been very lucky as normally when you're on tour God knows who you're stuck with!"
How do you feel about coming home to Southampton?
"Oh, I am so excited! When I took the job the first thing I asked was whether the Mayflower would be on the schedule. I said to the producers that,s my home town and we have to go there! I,m sure they would have gone anyway as the Mayflower is one of the biggest and the best theatres, but I've just been so excited all year. All my family and friends will be coming down."
Have you ever appeared at the Mayflower before?
"Never. I've always wanted to. It's such an amazing theatre and I've seen so many shows there. It will be great to be on stage there."
How did you start out on the path to musical theatre stardom?
"When I was 18 months old I started baby ballet! My mum used to work at Ocean FM on the reception and one of the newsreaders went to singing lessons in Horndean. I also used to do a lot of drama and singing festivals all over the place. The South is really blessed with some great festivals in singing, drama and dance. Other areas don't seem to have this. But I think it's so important for children - it certainly kept me away from parks and cider!"
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you along the way?
"My drama teachers were Mike O Brien and Shirley Holland. That was in Swanmore. And my very first singing teacher was Terri Freeman - she trained me from 12 to 16 so it's all down to her, really. All the staff at Guildford School of Acting as well. And anyone else I've forgotten!"
How do you think starring in How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? changed your career?
"Oh, it definitely put me in the spotlight. I've always wanted to be the centre of attention, but that was just taking the mickey! It meant I proved to myself that I can get through anything and still be alive at the end of it. I'm a tough cookie! I seemed to please the majority of people, which was really good."
What advice would you give to aspiring actors or singers?
"If you think you're good at something, keep doing it. It's also good to remember that casting is not personal, there's never really a right or wrong in performing. It's opinion, it's not necessarily about talent. You can't control everything, but you have to put yourself out there."
What beckons for you when the South Pacific tour ends in July?
"Unemployment! I've got absolutely no plans. That's what happens in this business. I'd love to do My Fair Lady, but so far I've never played the parts I thought I would and that's been part of the fun of it."
n Helena appears in South Pacific at the Mayflower from Monday until Saturday.
Box office: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk
4:31pm Friday 4th April 2008
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