‘I was at school with loads of cool people – like Amy Winehouse!’
In The Long Run’s takes a trip down memory lane as she tells us about her famous school pals and EastEnders’ mentor…
Kellie Shirley first hit the big time when she landed the role of Carly Wicks on EastEnders back in 2006. But her hunger for fame began at a much younger age. The actress tells us that watching the classic
80s kids’ show
Emu’s World is what inspired her career choice – and she hasn’t looked back.
Kellie, 39, who went to the famous BRIT School in London with Amy Winehouse – who she remembers fondly – is now starring alongside Idris Elba in Sky’s comedy series
In The Long Run.
We catch up with Kellie, who’s married to Phil Davies and is mum to twins Louie and Pearl, five, to chat about acting legends, singing superstars and her love of 80s hairdos…
Kellie, let’s talk about your hair inspiration for In The Long Run…
I remember going into make-up and shouting, ‘Kylie please.’ It was more the kids’ disco for me during the 80s but I do remember getting into people like Salt-NPepa and Pepsi & Shirlie, together with Kylie and Madonna. The music in the series is just great. We play it
Filming In The Long Run alongside Bill off camera, too, which really helps the atmosphere.
What shows inspired you to get into acting?
I used to be a big fan of Emu’s World with Rod Hull, especially Grotbags. She had Rice Krispies all over her face, along with being all green and horrible, and I remember my dad telling me that she got paid to do that. I said, ‘That sounds like the best job ever. You get paid for getting stuff thrown over you?’ So from a really early age I wanted to be an actress.
Kellie attended The BRIT School, like Amy
And you were a student at The BRIT School…
It was a really exciting time for me, with Amy Winehouse in the year below. The school had only started four years earlier and there were all these cool people. I wouldn’t say I was in Amy’s circle of friends but she would always say hello. There were always performances in the foyer and you would have these scratch nights when people could try out new material. Amy would always be trying new stuff with people huddling around her. It was like our playground really. People singing, dancing, listening to her.
That sounds like fun!
It was like the film Fame but cooler. Much, much cooler. When I’m in a nursing home and I haven’t got any teeth, it will be the time I remember the most.
Was it always about acting for you?
I did think about singing myself, but I realised I’m not on Amy’s level so I left it. Just bits here and there. I am actually singing in a new film called Benediction, about the life of war poet Siegfried Sassoon. That will be out next year now. I’ve been practising during lockdown. My poor neighbours!
EastEnders was your first big break. What was that like?
When I started at EastEnders
Barbara Windsor became my mentor and a very good friend. She really took me under her wing, which was great. The producer at the time was Kate Harwood and I’d been in a series of hers called
What was it like working with Barbara?
I really lucked out. I spent a lot of time with her in the dressing room. She made sure I knew my lines inside out. She was keen on that.
She wanted to know that
I knew about my character’s objectives and knew what was going on, too. She was fantastic, and she’s still a big part of my life today, as I check in with her and Scott [Barbara’s husband] to see how they are doing. She also taught me about being nice. Barbara always had the time to sign an autograph. That was important to her. And to talk to people, too.
Barbara and Scott’s life has changed such a lot due to the pandemic. It really has. Barbara is such a sociable person, so not being able to see close friends at the moment must have an effect. But Scott is really incredible and he adores her. I haven’t been able to see them for months now and the phone is not as good for a proper catch-up. It’s really hard not doing fun things, like a matinee at the theatre or a short walk. And the constant worry that if you do go out you could pick it [coronavirus] up. So I know it’s been really difficult for them and stressful. Hopefully, things will improve. When you meet her she still has so many stories about EastEnders and everything. She waxes lyrical about it.
Babs with Kellie and her twins, Louie and Pearl
Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky.
She took me with her, which was wonderful. She decided that many of the younger cast would be put with an established actor because, at that time, there were a lot of stories appearing in the tabloids. When you’re that age and in the public eye, there are always going to be people looking to get a story from you.
How has she been doing during the pandemic?
‘The BRIT School was like Fame but cooler – much, much cooler’
You did the London Marathon to raise money in honour of her last year…
Yes and she took us out for afternoon tea when we had finished. We then had this enormous sing-song. It was amazing, a proper East End singing session, with Roll Out The Barrel, that sort of thing. I took my twins along because she loves them, and they love her, too. It was one of my best days ever.
Are you planning to run any more marathons?
I’m not sure if I will do the marathon again – see how we go. I’m an ambassador for Mencap, so I might be talked into it again. If it’s on next year, that is.
Do you think we’re likely to see another series of on our screens?
I really hope so. I think it could go again. The 80s is so rich with politics and drama, there’s so much to draw on. And you’ve got the perm and the mullet in hairstyles alone. It’s comedy gold, isn’t it?
What was it like working with Bill Bailey on it?
He’s so dry, he really is. He’s the only person I know who can pick up a saucepan and he’s ready to start performing at the Royal Albert Hall.
It seems Idris Elba, who created the show, isn’t afraid to shy away from any issues…
There was definitely casual racism in series two when Kevin Bishop’s character used the word Velcro to describe a black character. There were the slogans around the estate, too. It’s not in your face, but washes over you. It is a comedy and one that hasn’t shied away from the real issues. That was Idris’s experience. People were getting abuse but with a level of casual racism which you just had to deal with.
Emu’s World inspired Kellie to be an actress
In The Long Run
‘Barbara Windsor took meunderher wing and is a very good friend’