Actress and singer Kym Marsh has spoken candidly about the challenge of travelling to Australia "alone" at the age of 49 to film her latest television project, a new Channel 5 drama titled The Imposter.
Nerves and New Friendships Down Under
Marsh revealed that flying to the other side of the world for a six-week filming stint without her family initially filled her with anxiety. "It was my first time over there and I was a little bit nervous," she admitted. "I am a 49-year-old woman, but it was the furthest I’d ever gone before alone." The former Coronation Street and Waterloo Road star said she quickly found support and friendship in her co-stars, particularly Neighbours icon Jackie Woodburne and singer-actress Dannii Minogue.
Woodburne, who plays Marsh's on-screen mother Helen in the series, took the newcomer under her wing. "Jackie was just incredible... she did take me under her wing because she knew I didn't know anyone in Australia," Marsh explained. The pair shared numerous scenes together, leading to a bond Marsh believes will last a lifetime. "I think Jackie will be a friend forever, actually," she said.
The Plot of The Imposter and a Bucket List Experience
In The Imposter, which begins on Monday, 15th December at 9pm on Channel 5, Marsh plays Amanda, a woman given up for adoption by Woodburne's character, Helen. Helen's secret daughter arrives amidst a family dispute over selling a seaside hotel, a situation that spirals into a twisted scheme and murder. Marsh described Amanda as a "complicated" and "damaged" individual but a great role to play.
Despite the distance from her three children, the trip fulfilled a long-held ambition for Marsh. "Australia's been on my bucket list for many years," she said, sharing that she visited animal sanctuaries, fed kangaroos, and took pictures with a koala. However, being away from her family, especially following the death of her father last year, was "really hard." She missed being a support for her mother but acknowledged her family was her "backbone" during the experience.
Looking to the Future: Theatre and a Corrie Return?
Marsh, who played Michelle Connor on Coronation Street from 2006 until 2019, is keeping busy. She is about to tour in the play Single White Female with Lisa Faulkner for six months next year. While a return to the Weatherfield cobbles isn't on the immediate horizon due to her packed schedule, she hasn't ruled it out. "I do love her, and I love the show. So at some point, it would be nice to think that I might go back," she stated, paying tribute to the soap for giving her the training for her career.
For now, audiences can see her in the tense new family drama, The Imposter, starting next week on Channel 5.
