My Perfect Weekend: Wendy Mae Brown
Wendy Mae Brown is starring as psychic Oda in Ghost at the Grand. She took time out between shows to reveal her perfect weekend.
It's Friday afternoon, what's on your mind?
If I'm in a show, Friday evening's performance! You wouldn't believe it but some nights it can take a while to switch from Wendy to Oda!
Who normally has the pleasure of your company at the weekends?
That would be the lucky, lucky Ghost cast and crew. On Saturdays it's a two-show day that starts at noon and finishes around midnight. If we weren't such a close team I don't know how we'd cope. I usually spend Sunday recovering.
How do you prepare for a big night out?
I'll usually get my hair and nails done, sometimes even a cheeky cocktail in the bath! I'm not a diva . . . honest!
What's your favourite party outfit?
I have these fabulous over-the-knee burgundy boots – they look amazing with a flowing top and leggings. Although I'd love to take Oda Mae's psychedelic rainbow costume out for a whirl.
You've just arrived at the bar, what's your first drink?
Jack Daniels on the rocks with (a splash of) coke.
What is your favourite night spot and why?
There's an amazing reggae club in London where all the dancehall DJ's from downtown Kingston hang out. It has such a great atmosphere with some world-class music.
It's a sunny Saturday, what are you up to?
Well I'm either preparing for a double-dose of Ghost The Musical or people-watching at a roadside café. We've visited some amazing cities on the tour, some days it's great to just sit back and watch the world go by.
What's your most memorable weekend ever and why?
Probably when my boyfriend came back from Japan after touring with Prince (he's a drummer).
I'd really missed him and he'd bought me lots of pressies including a gorgeous kimono.
What's your recipe for the perfect night in?
All of us at Ghost The Musical have really got into our US TV series – there's always something juicy on the telly in the dressing rooms. So I'd have to say a good box set, maybe Boardwalk Empire?
Anything spanning decades.
Ooh! And a bottle of red wine and a chinese.
Sunday breakfast: cooked or continental?
Cooked. You've got to go the extra mile on a Sunday! Otherwise what's the point?
Sunday lunch: home cooked or down the pub?
Definitely home-cooked. I haven't had too many chances to head home during the tour but when I have, there's absolutely nothing like it.
Where and how do you like to relax?
I'm generally quite a relaxed person most of the time but if I really need some time out I like to go home and curl up on the sofa.
You have the whole weekend off and a wad of cash. Which country or city would you head to?
The set and props in the show have me dying to visit New York – the attention to detail is crazy, they've even imported a bunch of American snacks for the prop vending machine in the subway scenes! So even though I feel like I'm there every night, I'd have to say New York.
Wendy is playing psychic Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical which runs at Wolverhampton Grand from June 4 to 15. The role was originally made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the 1990 film. She has a long list of theatre credits to her name and has also appeared in film and on TV including as Aggie in Last Chance Harvey (film); Bronwen Brown in Hatfields & McCoys (TV) and Hyacinth Beckford in Doctors (TV).