Barrowman ruminates on star quality, stigma and stereotyping
The Scots entertainer is relaxed about being relaxed, as Luke RixStanding discovers
Ilate 20s, I live with another man, we have three dogs that are groomed better than people, we live in Chelsea, and I’m in musical theatre. What more clues do you need?’”
In the past, you’ve spoken about spotting that “it” quality in others – is that something you can identify in yourself?
“I’m going to be blunt – I know I have something that means when I walk on stage, people look at me. I don’t know what it is, but I have it, and I know how to make it work. ”
Do you ever struggle to switch “it” on? Or suffer from low energy?
“I know how to turn it off and on, but there are times when I’m quiet and I have duvet days like everybody else. I’m fortunate that I can have my duvet days, then get up and move forward – I know some people need other kinds of help with that. If you do need help, you need to get out there and speak with somebody. ”
How do you stay fit and keep your energy levels high – do you have a strict diet or exercise programme?
“I don’t really worry about stuff like that anymore. I’ll swim in the pool, take the dogs for a walk – I’ve got a bit of a midriff that you get when you’re over 50. I think the most important thing is to stay active and keep doing stuff. I used to be in the gym every day for an hour and a half – if I needed to go back, I could, but at the moment, I don’t feel I have to.”
Do you get much time for holidays?
“Not regularly, so I turn my work trips into miniholidays. I love city breaks,
and I’ve been to Sydney four or five times over the last couple of years. I also love going back to Scotland, finding secret corners and wee nooks and crannies... I think people forget they have a lot of places to visit in their own town – I have a vacation every day!”
You’ve done so many different things in your career – has that been deliberate or just part of a natural progression?
“I’d say it’s a combination of both. I’ve never wanted to be pigeonholed, and when I started out, it was very rare for musical theatre people to move into television. I was never going to allow anyone to define my career for me.”
Do you have a fundamental secret that helps you live a happy life?
“If I did, I would bottle it, sell it and I’d be a gazillionaire. Be your true self, and realise that not everyone is going to like you. That’s a big lesson in life – I know that not everyone is going to like me and I don’t give a s**t about it.”
Finally, what’s your secret to a happy marriage?
“Don’t try to change each other – that’s the big thing. Scott and I are two individuals living together – I don’t try to change him, and he doesn’t try to change me.”
● TUI enlisted John Barrowman to bring the “Holiday Feeling” to life, showing holidaymakers exactly what the holiday feeling is during a stay at the TUI SENSATORI Resort Punta Cana. To find out more and watch the “fabu-lous” film, visit tui.co.uk/ theholidayfeeling