| She Magazine Interview |
Whether you still hold a place in your heart for Martin Kemp in his Spandau Ballet days – all frilly shirts and New Romantic mullet – or always think of him as Albert Square’s smooth heartbreaker Steve Owen, there’s something about the cheeky glint in the 41-year-old’s eye that makes him magnetic on screen. Kemp signed a reported £2 million “golden handcuffs” deal with ITV after leaving EastEnders and his latest project is police drama Serious and Organised. After a hectic day’s filming, SHE caught up with him at his home in Hertfordshire, which he shares with wife Shirlie, 39 (of Pepsi and Shirlie fame), and children, 13-year-old daughter Harley Moon and son Roman, 9. Tell us about your new role in Serious and Organised. I’m really excited about it. It’s a six part cop-show series with a really juicy twist. I play a police officer whose partner is his brother (Joe Duttine) and my character is in love with his wife (Esther Hall). It was the love triangle that attracted me rather than the action. Were you worried about being typecast after leaving EastEnders? No, I wasn’t. I really felt it was the right time to leave. They wanted me to stay but I needed to do something new. I had a fantastic time working on the show and I did get attached to my character, but it was time to go. When I started thinking about leaving I had some great offers from ITV. I was sent scripts that weren’t written for Steve Owen types, which was a good sign. However, I am playing a gangster in my next project. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? I’m interested in scripts about people and relationships but I don’t have a master plan. I just want to carry on doing quality work. The most important factor is enjoyment. I love my job and I’ve always believed that you’ve cracked it if your job is your hobby. So I pick projects I think I’ll enjoy and hope the audience will, too. On a personal level, I want to move back to London. We live in Hertfordshire, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but I really miss London. What is the secret of your 14-year marriage to Shirlie? Above everything else Shirlie and I are great friends. Our friendship has just grown. Any plans for more kids? No. No more babies! I think you reach a point where it’s nice to have your life back. Shirlie and I feel really lucky that we’ve had one of each. It’s great now because we all go out for dinner together. It’s harder to do that with a baby. Are you a strict dad? No, although Harley and Roman think I am. Our only rule is that they have to be in bed by 10 pm: I don’t think that’s unreasonable. Otherwise, Roman would be up all night watching The Simpsons. You were diagnosed with a brain tumour in the 90s, had surgery to remove it and later had radiation therapy to treat a second tumour. How did the experience affect your outlook on life? For the first few years I became quite reflective – it made me see everything differently. But now I just have to get on with my life. I can’t spend ages pondering the worst times. The whole thing has made me stronger. Before I became ill, I live a pretty hedonistic life, as if I was still 20. Cancer came along and turned me into an adult. It was terrifying – not just for me, but for my family too. You must have some happy memories from your Spandau Ballet time – what’s your favourite? True reaching number one in April 1983. I remember vividly the feeling of absolute, pure elation. It meant more then because it was harder to get to number one. The charts are more commercial now. Do you miss that time? In a way, yes. But I couldn’t do the rock star thing now – it would kill me. It’s great being in a band when you’re a kid, but I’ve grown up now. Do you miss working with your brother Gary (both were in Spandau Ballet and the film The Krays)? I do miss working with him. We grew up working together. I enjoy my independence now but I wouldn’t rule out working with Gary again if the right project came up. Lastly, what are your New Year’s resolutions? I’m not making any this year – I’ll only disappoint myself! |
| From pop star to arch villain, Martin Kemp’s career has thrown up exciting roles, but his favourite is that of husband and father. |
| Interview by Zoe Seymour January 2003 issue of She magazine |
| Transcript by Amanda Pinchbeck. |