He returned to tread the cobbles in Corrie last year and next week soap star Bruno Langley will be treading the boards in Wolverhampton. Women’s Editor Maria Cusine speaks to him ahead of his visit.
He may be one of the stars of Flashdance - The Musical, but Coronation Street star Bruno Langley won’t be showing off any of his own fancy footwork when he treads the boards in Wolverhampton next week.
“Me, dancing? You’ve got to be joking,” he laughs.
“I’m really not much of a natural dancer,” admits the former soap star.
For his role in the musical, based on the hit 80s movie of the same name, Bruno shows off his acting and singing talents.
But while there is no dancing from Bruno, there’s plenty of fancy moves from the rest of the cast, thanks to choreography by Arlene Phillips, judge on television’s Strictly Come Dancing.
“The dancing is really quite raunchy on stage,” he laughs.
“The dancers are amazing,” says the 25-year-old.
Set in America, Flashdance tells the story of 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and “flashdancer” by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at a prestigious dance academy.
It is a tale about holding on to your dreams and love against all the odds and features such hits as Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, and the title track Flashdance - What a Feeling.
Bruno plays bad boy Jimmy Kaminsky in the show and it is a world away from life on the nation’s favourite street.
Back in Weatherfield he played Todd Grimshaw - brother of Jason - and Corrie’s first openly gay character.
He appeared in the much-loved soap from 2001-2004, before returning at the end of last year for a brief stint to see Jason marry Sarah Platt.
“I’ve not played a bad guy before, so this is a fantastic opportunity,” he says.
“Jimmy is an 18-year-old bad boy from Pittsburgh and is very confused and down on his luck.
“After Coronation Street I always worried that I would be type-cast as the fresh faced nice-guy, so I’m pleased to be taking on a different role.”
And does he prefer stage to screen?
Bruno admits he loves the buzz from being on stage. “The connection with the audience is so immediate and it’s amazing to get that instant reaction,” he says.
“Musical theatre is a great way for me to further my career, and I’m really pleased to be doing this tour.”
But he says he loved his time on the cobbles and was pleased to return, albeit briefly, last year.
“At the time I wasn’t doing anything else and I lived just down the road from the studios, so it was great to go back and see everyone after being away for around three years,” he says.
His return saw him working again with Ryan Thomas, who plays his brother Jason, and Tina O’Brien, aka Sarah Platt in the soap - who was Bruno’s ex-girlfriend both on-screen and off-screen.
Ryan and Tina are now dating and expecting their first child.
“We’re all friends and it was good to see them again. I’m very happy for them and pleased to bits for them about the baby.”
And Bruno laughs that he could offer Ryan some tips, as he’s been busy becoming a father himself.
The actor and his girlfriend Victoria have a 15-month-old son Freddie.
“I’m sure I can offer Ryan some advice on fatherhood,” he laughs.
“Freddie’s great and I’m seeing him as and when I can throughout the tour. I should probably be a bit more hands on, but I certainly do my best,” he adds.
Bruno says his ultimate dream would be to get on the big screen.
“I really would love to go into film and my next challenge is to go for lots of TV and film auditions and hope someone gives me a chance.
“When you are in a soap you are always in the public eye and it’s actually good to be away from it as you just become known as that nice young boy from Coronation Street.
“I did love my time on the show, but I hope I may be able to take on a more manly role in the future”.
So will he ever return to Coronation Street?
“At the end of the day it depends on what I’m working on, but I never say never,” he adds.
l Flashdance is at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre From August 11 to 16. Tickets are available from the box office on 01902 429212. The show will be back in the West Midlands next year when it comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from February 4-14.
Share this article:
What are these?