An Interview with Sarah Harding

[An archived interview with the late former Girls Aloud singer]
As Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding prepares to make her stage debut in βGhost The Musicalβ, she tells us about adapting to the stage, meeting her ambitions and missing her bandmatesβ¦
How exciting is it to be making your stage debut in Ghost β The Musical?
Itβs a bit of everything. Excitement, nervousness, fear, elation, everything really. I didnβt know if I had it in me to do a musical because when youβre doing film or TV you can always do retakes. But you canβt do that with a musical. But the one thing you do get is lots of rehearsal time. Just like you would have if you were doing a concert tour. Itβs like a Girls Aloud tour, except instead of dancing Iβm learning lines. Iβm learning new songs but I donβt have to learn 20 new dance routines. Itβs 20 pages β well, triple that β of dialogue. But your muscle memory takes over and it becomes second nature. Just like it did when we were rehearsing our tours back in the day. Thereβs a bit more to think about, with the staging and the drama and the emotion, and itβs a very heart-felt and touching story.
What was it about this particular show that made you say yes?
I took it on because I really connected with the story. I think everyone can relate on some scale to losing somebody theyβve loved. It really isnβt hard for me to turn on the waterworks. (Laughs)
βIβm like the new girl in schoolβ
Has musical theatre always been an ambition?
I did a bit of training in acting when I was younger. But singing was always my forte. Iβve done a few bits and bobs acting wise, like St Trinianβs, but this is my first proper lead. There were a few female leads in St Trinianβs but this is the only female lead, apart from Oda Mae Brown [Jacqui Dubois]. It was the same with Girls Aloud. There was me and four other girls. Now when Iβm singing my solo itβs all eyes on me and itβs me on my own. I donβt have my dancers like I would if I was doing a solo gig. Itβs just me, Iβm being Molly. Iβm singing a heart-felt ballad and Iβm acting at the same time. So itβs a completely different kettle of fish. The singing is completely different too. Itβs not like youβre belting out big hits and stuff. It has to come from inside. You have to internalise all that emotion and not be over-the-top with it. I have a whole new appreciation for musical theatre. Iβm like the new girl in school.
Whatβs your take on Molly?
Sheβs a strong lady but sheβs vulnerable. Sheβs lost the man she thought she was about to marry. She was deeply, devastatingly in love with Sam [Andy Moss] and he was taken from her so suddenly. They never had chance to say goodbye. There was no closure.
βIβve been heartbroken and itβs really toughβ
Is she someone you can relate to?
Yes, I can. Iβve been heartbroken and itβs really tough. And from Samβs point of view he probably feels the same because he doesnβt feel it was his time to go. Things have to be resolved before he can finally say goodbye. The final scenes are so touching and I canβt watch the film without crying. Anything with Patrick Swayze in, I love it. He was one of my heartthrobs growing up β him and the John Hughes films.
How is it working with Andy Moss, who plays Sam?
I love Andy so much. Heβs like my teddy bear. Iβm like βAndy, youβre the actor, youβre the professional one, how would you do it?β Weβre doing our duets, there are a few times when itβs us and Sam Ferriday [Carl], then thereβs the whole ensemble. Weβre becoming like a family. The first week of rehearsals was the toughest for me because most of the cast have done this before. Theyβve trained or theyβve acted before full-time. Theyβve had that experience Iβve never had before. Iβve been on stage and Iβve been a singer, but Iβve been a pop singer, not a musical theatre singer. But they have taken me under their wing. Theyβll go βTry it like thisβ and if Iβve over-sung something, like I would in the band maybe, theyβll be βHold back and save your voice for this partβ. Itβs a different mic set-up as well. Iβm not holding a mic, Iβm acting.
βPeople are finally going to see that thereβs a softer side to meβ
Why do you think this particular story means so much to so many people?
Everybody on their journey in life experiences loss in some way or another. Weβre all born, weβre all here, we all love, we all lose and we all have to pass on at some point. Itβs a fact of life and itβs telling that story in a tragic but very loving and heart-felt way. Itβs about saying goodbye and mourning that loss. ItΒ is just so touching and Iβm so honored to be playing this part because the film was one of the most iconic films for me growing up.
What are you most looking forward to about the tour?
Oh man, Iβve missed touring. Except I wonβt be able to go out on stage and go βHey, Glasgow!β [Laughs] That wonβt be happening. It will be difficult not being able to interact with the audience because Iβm so used to getting a crowd going. When it came to going out on stage Iβd step up and get into my caricature mode of the leery Sarah everyone thought I was. People are finally going to see that thereβs a softer side to me they havenβt seen before. Normally that side is reserved for behind closed doors, for my friends and my family. I donβt like to show weakness. People donβt, do they? People are going to see a whole different side of me and Iβm hoping theyβll empathise a little and [laughs] go βYou know what, maybe sheβs not that bad a person after allβ. My whole mission is to get the audience crying. Iβm going to get this play sponsored by Kleenex! (Laughs)
How will you be spending your downtime? Are you someone who enjoys exploring different towns and cities?
I just like being on the road. Iβm quite a free spirit and, like I say, Iβm not always 100 mph like everyone thinks I am. I live in the country so itβs very chilled. When Iβm on tour I love to take in new cities and I love to travel. When I toured with the girls I used to go out and explore places with some of the dancers, go for lunch, whatever. I like being on the move. I get bored doing the same thing. When I finished education I really struggled with a structured job. Donβt get me wrong; Iβve done it and I have a huge respect for people who do those jobs because a lot of them are very important. But Iβm not that sort of person. [Laughs] Donβt put Baby in a corner! Wrong film, I know, but I feel Iβm a cross between Molly from Ghost and Baby from Dirty Dancing.
βThis is going to add another string to my bowβ
Will it be strange being on the road without your Girls Aloud bandmates?
It is strange, Iβm not gonna lie. But Jacqui who plays Oda Mae has really taken me under her wing. Sheβs had 30 yearsβ experience doing this so if thereβs anyone whoβs going to help me with βHow would you do that? How would you react? How do you internalise? And how do you externalise?β itβs Jacqui. Iβm learning all these new different terms like βdownstage centreβ and βmidstage centreβ. Iβm like βWhat? We didnβt have that in the band!β It was just βGet here, get there, hereβs your dance partner, get the audience going, belt one outβ. Iβm hoping this is going to add another string to my bow and itβs going to show people Iβm capable of more than just being on stage going βCome on everybody!β Itβs a massive learning curve for me. Itβs almost like Iβm at summer stage camp. One thing I always wanted to do as a child was go to full-time drama college but my parents couldnβt afford it. So this has been like boot camp and Iβm loving it.
Editorβs update: It was announced on September 5th 2021 that Sarah Harding had passed away from breast cancer, aged 39