MEET THE DANCING QUEEN

Actress Helen Hobson has been playing Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia for 13 years. She told Ellie House why she adores the role, and how she juggles motherhood with her career

It has been more than 10 years since Helen Hobson took to the stage in the smash-hit musical Mamma Mia, in the role of unlucky-in-love Donna Sheridan.

Much has changed since Helen first sunk her teeth into the part, and she has travelled all over the world playing Donna, who she describes as a “tough cookie.”

Helen credits her drama school principal for realising her potential, and is set to return to Aberdeen later this month having previously appeared in the north-east with a production of Cats.

With two vastly different productions under her belt, not to mention roles in Blood Brothers and Heathcliff – The Musical, it would seem Helen is still evolving.

She first began touring with Mamma Mia in 2004, and never grows complacent when it comes to playing the complicated Donna.

Donna is, of course, reluctant to let her determined daughter, Sophie, get married, and is unaware that Sophie has invited three of Donna’s old flames to the wedding.

From the mother-daughter bond to the joy of busting out moves to Dancing Queen, Helen has relished the role and has also become a mum herself.

Her young daughter now enjoys watching rehearsals, and the show has become even more popular since it hit cinema screens in 2008.

But how does Helen feel about playing a part which so many people now associate with Meryl Streep, as the Oscar-winning actress famously portrayed Donna while starring with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.

“So much has changed since I first started playing Donna. One of the most important things is my relationship with my two on-stage best friends, Rosie and Tanya,” said Helen.

“We all used to be in a band together called Donna and the Dynamos and getting that dynamic right is so important.

“We would spend a lot of time together working on our exchanges and role playing, and my relationship with Sophie, my on-stage daughter, is also really important.

“I’ve never really thought about how the role has changed since I’ve become a mum, but I think it makes me understand what Donna is going through a lot better.

“Scenes like Slipping Through My Fingers, for example, which is all about letting Sophie go, certainly seem much more poignant; my own little girl is five years old and very much a Mamma Mia fan.”

Helen also believes that the show has kept her in peak physical fitness due to the fast choreography, although she is thankful that Donna doesn’t dance quite as much as other characters.

“It’s a complete joy to be on stage, but goodness, it’s also a very physical show,” she said.

“I’ve just completed the 30-day summer shred challenge and noticed I’m no longer out of breath in numbers such as Super Trouper.

“I do worry if I have a cold because I could lose my voice, but I have three fantastic covers.

“The role is very demanding but it still amazes me that I can get to the very end of the show and just as you think you might fall in a heap, the audience give you back the most amazing energy.

“We do this megamix at the end and all the energy you’ve been giving out is put back to you.

“The thing I love about Donna the most is that she’s a really tough cookie but she covers it well; underneath she’s quite vulnerable.”

Juggling motherhood with touring around Europe can’t be easy, but Helen says technology helps her to keep in touch with her daughter.

Despite doing seven shows a week, she always tries to get home to do “one or two” school runs.

“It’s not easy, but me and her dad agreed that he would do a lot of the childcare; we actually met because he was a member of the crew on tour,” said Helen.

“Facetime is so handy when I’m away from home and my daughter can even sing a few of the songs.”

Donna goes on to marry her former flame in the play while Sophie decides to go travelling instead of tying the knot.

For Helen, she could not be more pleased at how things turn out.

“I really think Sophie’s decision is a triumph for young women,” she said.

“Of course Donna would support Sophie whatever she decides to do, but I think it’s brilliant that she realises there’s more to life and she needs to get off the island before settling down to married life.

“One of the key things with my relationship with Sophie is our back story, so we spent a lot of time sat down discussing it.

“My character obviously left home when I was pregnant with Sophie, so we did a lot of improvisation and working on our story.

“At the same time, I do try and have a life and a personality outside of the show, as I think it’s important that the role doesn’t define who I am.

“Obviously there are elements that cross over, and I think I was originally chosen to play Donna because of my personality.

“I’m surrounded by brilliant dancers on stage who are completely flawless, they are the true dancers.

“Despite being completely immersed in Mamma Mia, I just end up laughing when I hear Abba now.

“I’ve got a soft spot for the music.” Mamma Mia will appear at His Majesty’s Theatre from September 19 until October 14. For tickets and more information visit www. aberdeenperformingarts.com/ events/mamma-mia

Left: Helen Hobson as Donna Sheridan and Lucy May Barker as her daughter Sophie in Mamma Mia