[ A R T I C L E S ] [ S C A N S ] [ T E L E V I S I O N ]

Charlotte Church interview
BBCi Wales
Recorded on 9 June 2003, published on 14 June 2003.

Was it strange to make a film?

It was quite strange, because it's quite different from singing, although it's quite natural because you're used to performing or acting on stage. I felt like I wasn't doing much because Craig Ferguson - the director - kept saying to me, "Less is more". In the end, I just felt I was doing nothing so it was quite odd.

What was it like on set?

The cast and the crew made me feel really welcome. Towards the end it just got better and better. It was quite natural - the first day I got to the set I was really nervous, but I loved the whole experience.

Why did you pick this movie?

Since I was 12 or 13, I have been taking movie meetings finding a project right for me because I wanted to try it. Craig gave us the script - it was set in Wales, it is really British humour. I just loved it. I wanted to do a core British film to start off with, so it seemed like the natural choice.

Will you be doing another film?

Anything that is a good film, a good script - that's all I'm really interested in. I would quite like to do a different accent or play something so different from myself because Olivia, the character I play in this film, is similar to me. It wasn't that challenging because it was a lot like me. But I really enjoyed it - it was really fun.

What did you learn making the film?

You hardly have to do anything when you're acting. You have to be really subtle, and that is the best way to do it. If you're over the top, you seem really wooden and weird - I was really nervous about acting at the start, then had two acting lessons and I was OK.

Will it help the profile of Cardiff and Wales?

I hope so - if it's a success in America, it definitely will - I have been promoting Cardiff and Wales as much as I can. If anyone in America says "I am thinking of going to Ireland", I'm like, "No - Ireland's nowhere near as good as Cardiff - you should see it when the daffodils are out."

What is it like to have the premiere in your local cinema?

It's really cool - as soon as they said the premiere was in the UCI I was like, "Are you joking? I go to the UCI all the time!" I've got about 20 friends coming.

Why are your parents not here?

They never were planning to be here. All my family are going to London because they wanted to go to the big one. There was never any showdown - there wouldn't be.

Have they met your boyfriend Steven Johnson?

They met him ages ago.

Do the stories written about your private life annoy you?

They used to but not any more. You kind of get used to it - you accept it is part of your job - if you're famous and you want this life, you have got to accept this part of it as well. You learn or you get out, and I don't particularly want to get out because I'm still having a good time.

How does it feel when you read it?

I don't read it any more. I love singing - singing is what I'm famous for doing. Now it's turned into things I am famous for doing - like having rows with my mum or about my boyfriend, so it does get irritating.

Do your family get annoyed?

My family still get really upset - my nan said, "I'm writing a letter to the editor" but I'm like, "Nan, don't worry". But almost everything is just not true. There are some truths to some of the stories, but a lot of it isn't - you just have got to let it go.

Whose career would you like to copy?

No-one's. I would like to do a path of my own. I wouldn't say Madonna because she has done mad things I wouldn't want to copy.

Will you be following up the release of dance track Brave New World with another similar song?

I did that dance single as a one-off. It was a fun song - I really wanted to do it. But I have no idea what direction I am going in.

So what is coming next?

I'm just experimenting with every different type of music you can imagine and seeing where my voice lies and what sounds best. I think when I do finally do the album it will be very eclectic - just loads of different stuff on it. That's what I am hoping.