Richard Fleeshman: Soapstar Superstar

26 July 2008

0Comments | Comment on this Article

When BANG Showbiz met up with Richard, he spoke about how he copes performing in front of crowds of thousands, why he would never sign up to compete in 'Strictly Come Dancing' and how he keeps his curly locks in such good condition.

Q: How has it been touring with Elton John?

A: It's been incredible. He has just been so welcoming to me, as well as very complimentary and supportive. But I think it has probably been the most surreal month of my life.

Q: Did you feel nervous having to play in front of 30,000 people each night?

A: Yes! Definitely! But I was more nervous because I knew who I was opening for. Elton is an absolute legend and he has been someone I look up to since I was tiny. As far as playing in front of massive audiences goes, I really enjoyed it. Whatever you do, you want to do it to the best level you can, so playing in front of 30,000 people is really as good as it gets for me.

Q: Did Elton give you any advice before the tour started?

A: He told me to, 'Just stay true to yourself.' He said he likes what I'm doing and told me to remember why I do it - because I love singing and writing and making music. He told me to remember the reason I used to sit at a piano for hours as a child.

Q: That sounds like good, down-to-earth advice.

A: He is an amazing man. There's a lot of misconception about him and actually I saw nothing about him that I didn't like. He was incredibly generous and I had a brilliant time - he took me in his helicopter and his private jet and stuff like that. It's been a pretty crazy time!

Q: What would you say is your favourite Elton John song?

A: My favourite? There are so many but maybe 'Rocket Man'.

Q: Would you ever want to sing that with him on stage?

A: Yes! Anything! I'd sing 'Humpty Dumpty' with him on stage if he asked me to!

Q: Are you disappointed by the poor performance of your singles and album?

A: No, not really, because I never had any expectations about anything. I knew the business I was going into was very hard and I purposely put some distance between the TV shows I did and releasing my music. If anything, I knew it was going a huge uphill struggle. The reason I took the route I did is because I'm in it for the long haul and not just the five minutes of success I'd have got from a covers album that made it to number one.

Q: You did 'Soapstar Superstar'. Did you have any reservations about getting into singing that way?

A: Yes, I was very dubious about it to be honest, really dubious. That kind of show, being what it was, I thought it could potentially be harmful for my future. But, by the same token, I was an actor on 'Coronation Street' and I desperately wanted to make music. I desperately wanted to sing and I got the opportunity to sing live in front of 10 million people for two weeks and so that was an opportunity that really I would have been a fool to turn down and thank God I never did!

It was brilliant and I'd never regret doing it. I think people sometimes people say, "Do you want to put that behind you? Do you want to forget about 'Coronation Street'?" and yes certainly two and a half years on to still be talking about things like that, but then, by the same token, I have a lot to be grateful for and that's the way I view it.

They were very good for me to do because I learnt my craft there but also because of the opportunities that led on from them. So no, I wasn't instantly sure, but I'm incredibly grateful I came round to the idea.

Q: If you had to pick only one to do forever, which would it be - acting or singing?

A: That's a really tricky question, because people always try to compare the two of them saying, "What do you prefer more, acting or singing?" Music has just been what I've naturally leaned to all my life. But then I come from an acting family and I've done acting since such a young age that they're both just second nature to me but so worlds apart, you know.

They do cross over a lot though. They are so different. Whatever I'm doing as at the time is what I always think, "I love this the most." If I'm on stage with Elton John, I probably won't even think about playing a character because I'll be having the most amazing time. But then the whole creative process of rehearsing or being on stage or on camera or using a script it's just such an amazing thing as well. So that's a really tough one, what would I do? I think at the moment because I'm so heavily involved in music and I've got a really amazing opportunity with all this going on, so maybe singing for the time being but I don't think I could say forever.

Q: Do you feel you have to prove yourself both as an actor and a singer-song writer even more so than others because you have famous parents?

A: No, not at all. Fame was never anything that I strived for and it still isn't. Certainly success and respect and all those things are the right things to want to strive for. They're the right ambitions to have. I think there's nothing more upsetting than watching lines and lines of people at an audition for whatever it might be, and they go around the crowd and not one person says, "I've just wanted to make music all my life and sing" or not one person says, "I've just always wanted to perform". They all just say, "I want to be famous," and you go, "Well, what do you want to be famous for?" and it's a really sad state of affairs.

So no, fame is not something I ever felt drawn to and also it's not a measure of success because you can sit in a house totally untalented for nine weeks and be famous so it's not a margin of success at all. Whereas yes, certainly in respect and how you're viewed by your peers is important.

As far as my parents go, they always wanted me to do something with a regular income as opposed to doing something as crazy as this and they knew the pitfalls but they also knew how good it can be and how bad it can be. They were always very dubious about me being an actor, and certainly a musician. But they are so supportive. They're the best parent s in the world although I'm inclined to say that.

Q: Do you think you'll ever go back to 'Coronation Street'?

A: I certainly don't have any bad feelings about it. I had three or four years there. It's been a long time now since I've left so maybe not right now. It's probably not right the way things are going - it's quite tight at the moment.

Q: What have you missed the most since you left 'Coronation Street', if anything?

A: Certainly I miss the people a lot. I mean, I had such a great time. Now I'm playing some great characters and obviously I've just finished a new series for ITV recently and I've got quite a bit coming up, acting-wise, this year to take me through to the end of the year.

That mixed in with the things that are happening on the music side of things, so it's a lot - a lot! So there's not a lot I'd sort of say I miss about the work because I'm obviously having such a good time. But I do miss the place and the people because I got on so well with them.

Q: Do you still keep in contact with anyone from the show?

A: Absolutely and they kind of come down and see me or I see them when I go back to Manchester. I'm really close friends with Tina O'Brien, Ryan Thomas, Alan Halsall, Lucy Jo and Jack Shepherd.

Q: Do you still watch 'Coronation Street'?

A: I find it's on too much I can never catch up. I do sort of, tend to, you know, if I'm in at 7.30 definitely I'll try to catch it to see what's going on. But I usually find out from all of them anyway, they'll just be like, "Oh mate I was just filming this ridiculous scene!" A lot's happening so that's how I know what's going on.

Q: As a child, were there any TV shows you used to love? Any guilty pleasures?

A: I was a big 'Playdays' fan when I was little. I used to watch anything really! I remember watching 'Power Rangers' loads and then I watched it like three years later maybe when I was about 12 and I remember thinking, "This is terrible. This is actually terrible!" It just looked horrendous, the graphics were awful, and I just was so disappointed. I should have left it as a 7-year-old! I just absolutely loved the 'Power Rangers.' Your imagination just fills in so many of the blanks that the bad graphics missed!

Q: So when you're acting do you prefer being in front of the camera or on stage in front of an audience?

A: Again, they are almost two different things. The thing with being on stage is that it's so intense and obviously it's like balancing a ball which you have to keep afloat for two hours and don't drop it - it's a routine exercise and everyone's doing the same thing.

I grew up watching both my parents just be on stage all the time and that was something that I really loved. I loved going to the theatre and I love doing theatre. But then again, being in front of a camera you get so many opportunities to do things you'd never get to do otherwise. The kind of crazy things and the circumstances and scenarios like car chases are just things that you could never do on stage. There are so many things like that. Also, the stage is a lot bigger but the camera is so internal and so real and so they're totally different. Obviously my massive experience has been on TV so I'd have to say that.

Q: Have you got your sights set on leaving the UK and heading off to Hollywood in the future?

A: I don't know. I mean there are a lot of rumours going round at the moment but I just am really happy with what I'm doing. I'm very much incorporating acting - there's loads going on I wont beat around the bush. There are lots of things going on with that side of things, that's very exciting. But who knows! I've not got a big grand plan and I'm only 19-years-old so I don't really think I'm in a hurry. I'm enjoying what I'm doing and I'm fortunate to be getting some really brilliant opportunities so just kind of taking them with both hands really.

Q: Would you ever consider doing another reality show such as 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!' or 'Strictly Come Dancing'?

A: The only reason I think I'd say no is, I mean obviously I'm always inclined just to say "Never say never," but my immediate reaction would be to say "Why? What's the justification?" I went on 'Soapstar Superstar' because I've always wanted to sing and that was my opportunity to show millions of people that I wanted to sing and show them that I could. But I've never professed to want to be a ballroom dancer, I've never professed to wanting to be an outback ranger so there's no reason for me to do those things. They're totally for profile and great, they make money for charity but I've never been in this industry for profile and so I don't think so, I don't think there would ever be a reason, but you never know.

Q: Everyone wants to know how you keep you hair in such good condition.

A: Well, that's sheer fluke then, because I've always thought it looked terrible! I've got curly hair so literally nothing I do helps. I'll let you into a secret, this has been a bit relaxed so it looks a little bit straighter. My hair has been the bane of my life because I do look like I have an afro!! There's very little I can do with it. So how do I keep in good condition? Maybe the curse of curly hair was counteracted by good conditioned hair.

Q: Would you ever consider shaving it off for an acting role?

A: Yes certainly! It's a lot easier to be free and uninhibited when you're playing someone else.

By Laura Kennedy and Sarah Bull.

0Comments | Be the first to comment!