POP star Michelle Heaton’s new stage role Mum’s The Word 2 fits her like a Babygro.
The former pop star delights as tomboyish character Robin in the comedy stage show, which reveals what it’s really like to be a mum.
However, the former Liberty X singer who has two children, four-year-old Faith and two-year-old AJ, doesn’t have to act out the role of Delighted Mum.Michelle reveals that she counts her blessings every day. And this is because she was dangerously close to never having kids of her own. “I don’t think you can really plan what life throws your way,” says the singer/actress with a wry smile.
Michelle reveals that she counts her blessings every day. And this is because she was dangerously close to never having kids of her own.
“I don’t think you can really plan what life throws your way,” says the singer/actress with a wry smile.
“Fate plans it for you. I can’t have more children because I had a hysterectomy two years ago, so being able to have children before that came about makes me feel very lucky.” However as a result of the hysterectomy Michelle is now going through the menopause at just 37 years old.
Prior to the operation, Michelle also had a double mastectomy, after she was diagnosed with the mutated BRACA2 gene in 2012.
“It’s been a very turbulent four yours,” she says, with some understatement, “but at the same time having my kids has made it the best four years and I’m grateful that they are too young to
remember what I’ve gone through”
Michelle rose to fame when she took part in the reality TV show Popstars, and while initially unsuccessful in 2001 she went on to form Liberty X with other contestants.
The group ran for six years, won a Brit award and toured the world. More recently Michelle has gone on to develop a career in TV presentation including successfully guest presenting ITV’s ‘Loose
Women’ and the ‘Lorraine Show’ and has her own YouTube Channel where she shares everything from family videos to fitness, food and beauty tips.
However, the singer had to fight hard against her illness. Now her worst days are hopefully behind her and the actress, who is married to Irish businessman Hugh Hanley, is fit and well. Indeed, she feels blessed to be back to her acting roots, touring the country with Mum’s The Word 2 alongside Gemma Bissix, Rebecca Wheatley, Polly Highton and Sarah Lawn.
“After Faith was born I reduced my working commitments to focus on our bringing up our family. Now that AJ is getting older I feel the time is right to get a bit of my old life back. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mum, but I want to work, I want to get back to what I love doing and by doing so I think it will actually make me a better mum. So when the opportunity came up to join the Mums the Word 2 cast I jumped at the chance”
The show is a sequel to the hilarious ‘Mums the Word’ which was written by six Canadian actresses and real life mums. The show laughed at the trials and tribulations of having children and the
overwhelming effect they have on your life. Now, we join the mums ‘older and wider’ on their continuing journey into the new parenting nightmare that is teenagers.
“The show is hysterical and I often find myself laughing out loud whilst reading the script however it is laced with poignancy”
In fact, there are moments during the mum’s stage performance that resonate for all the wrong reasons with Michelle. Her character Robin, we learn, is diagnosed with breast cancer.
“It’s all very close to home,” says Michelle. “It makes the performance so emotional for me. But I reflect on my own experiences and bring them to this part. I was delighted when the producer told us that the tour would be supporting the charity ‘Breast Cancer Now’, especially as we are performing all through October which is breast cancer awareness month. We all know someone who has been affected by this awful disease and knowing that the tour and our audiences can make a difference is amazing.”
The performer adds; “However this is where the connection with my character ends. I’m not a tomboy at all. I’m much more girlie.”
But tough. You have to be resilient to deal with the physical and emotional scarring she’s had to endure in recent times.
“Mums just have to get on with it,” she says, with a shrug.
“You don’t have time to wallow in self-pity and I love being a mum”
“It’s what I was meant to do.”
She adds, laughing; “That, and performing on stage in a show like this. I love it.”
Mum’s The Word 2 would have been appearing at the PAVILION THEATRE, RHYL on Friday 30th September 7.30pm, but sadly the producers have cancelled the show.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
