Titanic performance for the unsinkable Abi Finley

By Lauren Krotosky - Thursday 28th 2009f May 2009


Abi Finley

New role for 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria' star

Abi Finley, the Manchester-born actress who shot to fame when she made the final five in the BBC programme How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria, recently landed the title role in classic Broadway musical, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. I caught up with her for a chat about Molly, Maria and moving to America.

So how did all this come about, getting the role of Molly Brown?

I got a call from my agent asking if I wanted to audition, and as soon as I heard it was a Debbie Reynolds movie from the 1950s I was like 'yes!' So I went to audition and got the part, which was very exciting. There is so much to learn though. It is written by Meredith Willson, and the songs are brilliant but very wordy. I started rehearsing a couple of weeks ago. I think I have always had a bit of a knack for learning scripts - I am the crazy person learning my lines on the Tube.

Are you anything like Molly?

Yes, a bit. She grows up with brothers and is a bit of a tomboy, like me. It is a real rags-to-riches tale and she has a feeling that there is something out there, something better. But on the way she gets blinded by money, so I am not like her in that way. It is based on a true character, Margaret Brown, who survived the Titanic. She is a wonderful character to play and it is a lovely story. Money is great but without love, friends and family, it is nothing. I watched the film last night until 2am, and although it was the third or fourth time I had seen it I still cried my eyes out.

Did you ever think you would have the lead role in a classic Broadway musical at this stage of your life?

It is something I had always hoped for. But I take things as they come, and am very lucky and privileged to have got this role. It is a piece of great theatre. There is a Broadway revival being planned for 2011.

After How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria, you starred in Blondel. What did you do after that?

I went on a nine-month UK tour of Fame, and then starred in a couple of small plays around London. Then I appeared in Betwixt which was great. And then I did panto at the Oxford Playhouse which was a lot of fun - I absolutely loved it! There was juggling, pie in your face, all that sort of stuff. There were no egos, it was such a lovely company and such fun to do.

How has your life changed since you started getting all these fantastic roles?

I am very lucky. It sounds so clichéd but I am living the dream. This is what I have always wanted to do. I moved down from Manchester, and did the Maria show which was a godsend and speeded everything up a little bit. I probably got a lot more meetings because of that. I have been very fortunate and had wonderful support from family and friends. It is a very precarious business - you can audition and audition and not get anything. What I love about the old musicals is that they are such feel-good shows, and the theme of this show is so relevant today with the recession and in this world of celebrity.

Would you ever consider moving to America for work?

I would but I think I would miss my family and friends terribly. When I went on Bnei Akiva Israel tour I cried loads so it would be hard. But it is something I would love to do.

Do you consider yourself a celebrity and do you ever get recognised?

I definitely don't consider myself a celebrity but I do occasionally get recognised. The fame side of things is a bonus but not my focus. The whole Maria experience made me realise how lovely people are - there are people who watched me on Maria and have been to see me in everything I have been in since. I will keep doing this as long as I keep entertaining people.

Are you still in touch with any of the other Maria girls?

Aoife is still one of my best friends and is getting married in the summer which I am looking forward to.

What's next for Abi Finley?

Ooh, I don't know... Broadway! We are hoping that this show will transfer somewhere else and if not I will just wait for the next call from my agent!

The Unsinkable Molly Brown is at The Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH from 27 May to 21 June. Box Office 020 7737 7276 Book online at www.landortheatre.co.uk