Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I barely wore anything in lockdown.. but it wasn’t so much fun for cooking
Ex-girls Aloud star has new musical role
show he finds himself one of the most sought-after single men in America, with journalist Annie on his tail.
Kimberley says: “The producers decided to open in August because we can still put the show on, even if we have to socially distance on stage.
“The two main characters don’t meet until the final scene.”
There will be a special NHS Gala night with free tickets for NHS and care workers. Kimberley says: “It’s going to feel very emotional.”
Kimberley kept in touch with friends and family in lockdown via Zoom, and had Facetime sessions with former bandmate Cheryl Tweedy.
She says: “Her son and my youngest are really close in age and they all get on really well. When lockdown was lifted we went straight round to her garden. The kids were so happy to see each other and had a ball.”
Girls Aloud – Kimberley, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts – formed in 2002 from the reality TV show Popstars: The Rivals and broke up in 2013.
Kimberley admits she misses the Girls Aloud days and gave hope to fans by not ruling out a reunion to mark their 20th anniversary in 2022.
She says: “It would be lovely to be back on stage with them; the nostalgia would feel so special. If everything aligns and the girls felt it was something they wanted to do, then obviously I’d be happy to be part of it.”
Despite reported feuds, Kimberley is in touch with all the ex-bandmates.
She says: “Cheryl, Nicola and I are closer and have stayed in touch more, but that’s mainly because Sarah doesn’t live in London and Nadine lived in
America for a long time. But I ran into Nadine before lockdown and it was like no time had passed. We’re on brilliant terms. I keep in touch with Sarah too.”
However, she seems to have found her home in the West End, starring in Shrek: The Musical, Elf and Big before landing the part in Sleepless. In 2018 she was in the second series of Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge. Acting is in the blood – eldest sister Sally was in Emmerdale for three years as Lyn Hutchinson, and her youngest sister Amy has been in the soap for six years playing Tracy Metcalfe.
Kimberley says: “The dream for us three would be for somebody to write something that we could all be in.”
Kimberley narrowly missed out on the role of Maria in Coronation Street just before she joined Girls Aloud.
“It was gutting,” she says. “But I don’t think I’d have got quite as much out of Coronation Street as I got out of Girls Aloud. Things do happen for a reason.
“That’s why I love Sleepless. It’s about fate and destiny.”
For tickets and further details visit sleeplessthemusical.com