| Bella Interview |
| What does TV golden boy Martin Kemp think about his brother’s return to acting? Martin Kemp’s kids Harley and Roman laugh when they see old footage of dad and uncle Gary in their Spandau Ballet days. But millions of fans treasure memories of the brothers belting out hits in knickerbockers trousers and frilly shirts. Of course, Martin and Gary went on to star in the hit 1990 movie The Krays, but that was the last time they worked together. Martin has since established himself as one of our most popular TV stars. EastEnders businessman Steve Owen will long be remembered as one of the best baddies in soap history. And Daddy’s Girl, the one-off drama screened a few months back, in which he played a father accused by his daughter of murdering her mother, got great viewing figures. Gary, meanwhile, continues to have success in the music business as a writer and producer. But now comes news that Gary has been enticed back into acting. He’s just filmed an episode of BBC1’s drama series Murder in Mind and no one’s more thrilled than Martin. Because it could mean that, at some point in the future, they’ll be reunited on screen – in fact, Martin’s sure of it. ‘When we were offered The Krays, we had no doubt it was the right thing to do. We knew we were very lucky to be given that chance and we made the most of it. But I’ve always felt it’s a shame we haven’t worked together since. We will – it’s just a case of finding the right thing.’ Martin admits he doesn’t see as much of Gary as he would like to. ‘But we speak regularly on the phone,’ he says. They’ve always been good friends although, naturally, there was a period in their teens when Gary didn’t really want his little brother hanging around, cramping his style. ‘He wanted to go to the pub with his mates and I was too young. Then he started up this band and needed a guitarist. I was desperate to be involved and our mum said to him “You let him be in it!” – so he had no choice,’ laughs Martin, 41. There were the usual sibling spats over the years, but one thing they never fell out over was girls. Which leads us on nicely to Martin’s latest drama, Serious and Organised. Martin plays Jack Finn, one of two brothers serving with the Serious and Organised Crime Squad – a department fighting organised crime, contract killings and major drugs and firearms trafficking. But Jack and Tony’s relationship goes beyond the professional – they’re best friends as well as brothers. Tony (Joe Duttine) is a family man and can’t understand why Jack doesn’t find a nice girl and settle down. But Jack is secretly in love with Tony’s wife Rachel. ‘What was great about this series is that you’ve got the rough and tumble cop stuff, plus there’s this brilliant relationship story running through,’ says Martin. ‘Jack’s obsessed with his brother’s wife, to the point where he can’t commit to another woman. She has no idea, which is how it has to be because Jack’s terrified of losing Tony.’ Wouldn’t this have been the perfect project for him and Gary? ‘I’d like to work with him again – but not for 12 weeks!’ laughs Martin leaning back in his armchair. He’s looking good – tanned and toned, courtesy of regular work-outs in the gym: 500 sit-ups, 45 minutes on the step machine, then on to the treadmill. So is he one of those people who actually enjoys working out? ‘Not particularly, but it has to be done – that pot belly look just isn’t attractive,’ Martin replies. ‘I consider it part and parcel of the job and I’ve been doing it so long now, I don’t think twice about it.’ His tan’s set off by an expensive caramel-coloured leather jacket. Clothes are a passion of his, which may be one of the reasons he was chosen to front a new ad campaign for Burton’s menswear. ‘The photo shoot was at Pinewood Studios,’ says Martin. ‘It was like a small movie, the budget was so humungous. But it was good fun.’ Fashion sense runs through his family; his wife Shirlie is a stylish lady, and Harley, 13 and Roman, nine, are also very image-conscious. ‘Harley says she’s a townie, but I’m not sure what this means,’ says Martin. ‘My boy’s a goth. He loves rock and I can relate to that. ‘We’ve just been to see Alice Cooper together. He said: “Dad how are you going to get around being recognised?” So I said, “It’s all right, I’ll make myself up like Alice Cooper.” He thought it was a great idea and believed me.’ So, you had to do it then? ‘Get away!’ he roars, ‘I pulled my baseball hat down, that’s as far as I go!’ Martin’s got rid of all his Spandau Ballet clothes. ‘I’m a bit frightened that if you keep things from the past, you’re always looking back, and won’t move forward to other things,’ he says. Next up on the work front is a drama series called Family, about a family of gangsters. Co-starring Jamie Foreman, Martin starts shooting at the end of this month. ‘It means that I’ll have had a couple of months off to get back to real life, being with Shirlie, the kids and seeing my mum and dad,’ he says. His parents, who live in Dorset, are proud of their sons. ‘I’m glad they’ve been able to get enjoyment out of our work over the years,’ he smiles. ‘Of course they think everything we do is great – they’re our mum and dad!’ Has there been any rivalry between him and Gary since they went their separate ways? ‘No! We’ve gone through different periods when one of us has had a higher profile than the other. We’ve reached an age now where we realise that’s just the way it is,’ he shrugs. ‘There’s no competitiveness.’ Cue big grin. ‘Well … except when Gary’s doing better than me!’ |
| Interview by Belinda Robey - Bella Magazine Jan 2003 Transcript by Amanda Pinchbeck |