An Interview with Steven Houghton

A well-known face on British television, Steven Houghton has appeared in Coronation Street, Londonβs Burning and Bugs, as well as a host of other UK dramas. We spoke to him about his career and working with Simon Cowell on a short-lived pop careerβ¦
How did you get involved with The Sound of Music?
I got a call quite late on the night before I went to meet Bill Kenwright, and went in to see him and read some lines and muddled through a bit of a song and then got offered the part, so here I am! It was all very quick.
Are you a fan of the musical/film?
Everyone knows The Sound of Music, donβt they? Everybody knows what it is and the wonderful songs that are in it. I think itβs part of everyoneβs life.
This is a very big and iconic role to take on β are you nervous?
Not really. With an acting career, things throw you all the time. One week it can be EastEnders, the next week it could be a film, the next week it could be Cats. So when something is thrown up at you and then you look at it, read the script, itβs such a brilliant part, that Iβd be a fool not to do it really.
βPowerfulβ
Are you basing your Captain on Christopher Plummer or making him your own?
I think Bill wants me to grow a moustache (laughs) so weβll see how that one pans out! Youβve got to play a part your way and be comfortable in your skin doing it. You canβt pretend to be somebody else because if you try and copy a character, youβre on a loser so youβve got to make it your own.
What is your favourite song or scene from the musical?
Iβve really enjoyed listening to Danielle (Hope) sing the songs. Most of them everybody knows and most of them are so lovely. Youβve got βRaindrops on Rosesβ, and βEdelweissβ that I sing, a lovely song. Theyβre all such powerful melodies that when you hear them, you instantly remember them and it all comes back to you.
Do you know any of your cast mates? How are you all getting on?
No, I knew absolutely nobody. Thatβs the funny thing, when you get the cast list through, itβs quite nice when you donβt know anybody. No baggage, no stories to tell (laughs). Itβs nice as well to get to know new people. I knew who Danielle was, I watched her on βOver the Rainbowβ. I didnβt see her in The Wizard of Oz though, sadly, Iβve got two kids of 15 and 19 and Iβm too busy running them around the place; school runs, ballet and everything else.
βSpecial musicalβ
Will they be coming to see you in this?
My daughter will, my other half will. My sonβs always iffy on that one, depends what else heβs got on. In fact, the only thing heβs ever liked me in was Blood Brothers, another one of Billβs shows. He came to see me in that about seven times. But everything else Iβve done he turns his nose up (laughs). Blood Brothers is a boysβ show, and for him, he loves his football, heβs a real boy. But he actually had the cast album which he played in his room and sang along to the words. And usually when he sees me in a musical, such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, heβll say, βthatβs rubbishβ, so Blood Brothers is a very special musical.
Most people will know you from Londonβs Burning and Coronation Street, but theatre is actually where you started β which do you prefer?
I just think it is a really hard career but a really wonderful career. From when I started I still think I canβt believe everything I have done. All the different jobs Iβve had, be it in theatre or TV or even a recording contract. When I was younger, all I wanted to be in was The Brian Rogers Connection (dance troupe who performed on the ITV β78-88 series 3-2-1). Iβve just done so much more than that, more than I ever thought I would. And if I never did anything else after this job, then it wouldnβt matter.
βSinging firemanβ
You also flirted with pop stardom, with a Top 3 single and gold-selling album β how did that happen and why did you stop?
I was in the cast of the musical Martin Guerre and two months into it I got a casting for Londonβs Burning, my first telly casting. I got a regular role, it was amazing. And then in episode six or seven, the character sang a song. And Simon Cowell was friends with my agent and he thought it would be a really good idea to release the song. It then sold 600,000 copies. So then I did an album with him and a second single. Then I left Londonβs Burning and I did a different TV series called Bugs on BBC1. Thatβs when the singing fireman thing ended.
What was Simon Cowell like to work with?
He was amazing. We did Top of the Pops and in those days, as the head of RCA, he would come with me for meetings all day. And Iβll never forget, the reception of a hotel or studios where the interviews were being held, which would go on for about three hours. But then weβd leave and he would always remember the lady on reception. What a skill to have. He was very switched on and very polite. Very amiable to everybody and made everybody feel important, which I think is amazing.
Youβve toured the UK before with Grease, Miss Saigon and Annie Get Your Gun. What are you looking forward to about this tour?
Iβm just going to have fun and embrace it. I can go to the gym during the day and hang out, Iβm just going to have a good time.