I adore Mo. I’d go back to Holby city every year if I could
Chizzy Akudolu is turning diva for side-splitting stage play Edmond de Bergerac, but tells MARION MCMULLEN she’ll always be known as Dr Mo
Are you a born performer?
I ALWAYS wanted to do it, but my parents weren’t keen at all. They are very Nigerian, very African, and really academic. I’m not academic. I got a lot more from the arts.
They accepted me once I got Holby and started playing heart surgeon Mo Effanga. They were very proud, especially my Dad. He used to ask me before that ‘When are you going to give it up?’ and I’d say ‘that’s not what you do. I’m not going to give it up.’
Then Holby came along and they are in their element. (Laughs) You’d think I was really a doctor the way they behave. Friends call me
Doctor Mo even now. Mo will never leave me and I do adore her. I always love going back to Holby. I’d go back every year if I could.
Do people ever think you are a real doctor?
(L AUGHS) No, but some people take the mick. I have had guys going ‘my heart, my heart’ or ‘can you take a look at my arm?’ I say ‘I don’t do arms.’
How did you start in the business?
ACTING was something I always wanted, so I started off as an extra, just so I knew what it was like on set.
I did it for a year and a half and then entered a competition looking for comedy performers and got in.
I’ve had brilliant years and terrible years, but that’s how I really got into it. It’s something I love doing. I love performing. I’ve probably learned on the job watching people and watching films and thinking ‘I have to do that. I would love to have a part like that.’
You’re now appearing alongside Freddie Fox, Josie Lawrence and Henry Goodman in the UK premiere of Edmond de Bergerac. Who do you play?
I PL AY Maria who is a fading actress. (Laughs) She’s basically a bit of a diva. She knows her worth and she can be very tricky – everything you’d expect from a diva.
She certainly sees how far she can take it and she has T WO dressing rooms. Who asks for two dressing rooms? She’s definitely a lot of fun to play.
The play about the hilarious story behind Cyrano de Bergerac has already been a phenomenon in France. How would your describe it?
IT’S A crazy French farce. It’s a bunch of actors on the road putting on a play as it’s written on the hoof.
The actors are used to doing flops and expected this to be a flop as well. Instead the play is a great success. It’s set in 1897 so it’s long dresses, very high necks, bloomers and underskirts and we are wearing wigs as well. It’s ver y hot.
If I don’t come out two stone lighter I’ll want to know why. It’s totally different from doing T V. You get that intimacy with a live audience that you do not get with T V and I do love being in front of people. (Laughs) I love being a show off.
You partnered Pasha in Strictly Come Dancing and appeared in Celebrity MasterChef. Would you do another reality show?
PASHA’S leaving Strictly. I broke Pasha. I am so grateful I got to dance with him. I saw him before Strictly when he took part in So You Think You Can Dance in America.
He’s now going off to do other things and I wish him the best.
When MasterChef came up I said ‘no, I don’t cook’ but they told me ‘they want you’ and I said alright I’ll do it.
I knew I would not do well, it was not me, and I was out straight away.
Maybe I should go for the triple and do I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and be the first out and spend the rest of the time in a nice five-star hotel.
Snakes and rats don’t bother me, but bugs, ugh! Bugs scare the s**t out of me .
I don’t think I could do it because of the bugs. I’m itching now just thinking about it.
Who would you like to work with?
WELL , Oprah Winfrey definitely, Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Olivia Colman, Denzel Washington – there are quite a few.
Viola Davis is someone who inspires me. I’d definitely love to be in something with her. Just the thought gives me chills. And Angela Bassett is 60 and looks younger than me. Anything can happen.
Olivia Colman said she was a cleaner and we’ve all done odd jobs. You’ve got to dream big and hold on to those dreams. Olivia has come up through the ranks and is brilliant at ever ything she does. She stays out of the spotlight, does her thing and wins an Oscar.
She’s the Queen of the World.
The UK premiere of Edmond de Bergerac opens at Birmingham Rep on March 21 before touring. Go to @chizzy akudolu on Twitter for details.
Pasha’s leaving Strictly. I broke Pasha. I am so grateful I got to dance with him.