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FIND OUT MOREFlying high
From getting showered with creepy crawlies in the Aussie jungle to swimming with sharks in South Africa and trekking a treacherous 60km uphill in China, Gemma Atkinson has done some pretty wild things for our entertainment recently. This Christmas, the Manchester actress and glamour model will add flying to her long list of daredevil acts when she steps into the boots of Peter Pan in her hotly anticipated theatre debut at the Opera House. The 24-year-old pin-up tells All About Manchester she cannot wait to release the tomboy in her on stage.
This time last year you were heading for the Australian jungle, where you took part in TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! Can you remember the most disgusting thing you had to do in the jungle?
For me the most disgusting thing was the terror train, which was the trial I did with J, when they dropped cockroaches, maggots, fly pupae and spiders on us whilst in a train. The thing with the jungle is, all the shower gels you use have to be eco-friendly - although they clean you when you shower, there's no scent to them - so the smell of fly pupae stayed with me for about four days.
After coming out of the jungle you travelled to Beijing, where you took part in a fundraising walk on the Great Wall of China led by Olivia Newton John to raise money for a cancer charity. And then you went to Cape Town to film Adrenaline Junkie with Jack Osbourne, where you swam with sharks and bungee jumped out of helicopters. Do you actually like punishing yourself?
I've always been an outdoors type of girl; I've never been the type of girl who stays at home and paints her nails. I like to get stuck in with stuff and get my hands grubby and go without make-up. So everything I've done in the last year I've absolutely loved, and I hope I get to do more adventures next year.
What is the most frightening experience you've had in these adventures?
When I walked the Great Wall of China, there were parts where there was no wall; it was just stones and pathways. That was quite scary because we were absolutely shattered, walking uphill without the protective wall, and there were times when you thought if you slipped you'd be in serious trouble. And also with the Jack Osbourne show, I did a bungee jump from 310 metres and that was the first time I cried through fear.
You also found time to return to acting this year. You're in forthcoming Brit flick Boogie Woogie and you play in EA's Red Alert 3: Command and Conquer, which has just come out. Which project did you find most challenging?
It was the Red Alert 3: Command and Conquer, where I play a woman called Eva McKenna. It was daunting for me because we shot it over in LA in a proper studio and with so many big names - Tim Curry and Jenny McCarthy are in it and so is Lisa from the OC. So you have this room with all these people who've already made a name for themselves, and then there is little me from Manchester. It was hard because I had to perform in front of Americans, whose way of doing things is a lot different to ours. But we did the shoot in four days and frankly I went down really well. The American viewers had to vote which female cast member they preferred and they chose me. So EA invited me to go back over and do some more press for them.
Eva McKenna is consistent with your public image of a sexy, glamorous young woman. Yet you play a boy in this year's pantomime at the Opera House. What made you take on this role?
I've been asked to do panto many times but it's always been down south. This one is in Manchester - I'm from Manchester so I always love to support the city, and it's on my doorstep as well, which is good because I get to be home for Christmas. And also I'm very much a tomboy, anyway. I have to be glamorous at work, but when I'm not in work I tend to be in jeans and a T-shirt. I love the idea of doing a job where I don't have to have my hair and make-up done for an hour beforehand, I don't have to have acrylic nails, I don't have to go to the gym. Peter Pan is a get-up-and-go type thing so I can't wait to get stuck in. But I think a lot of people will be shocked to see me dressed up as a boy.
Do you have anything in common with the character, Peter Pan?
Probably the fact that we're both immature - I've never wanted to grow up, either. Peter Pan is the ring leader of his group of friends, and growing up I was like that with my group of friends. It was always me who had the wacky ideas, if we did a game I had to do it first, so I think that kind of arrogance and cockiness with our friends we've got in common.
What is it about the story of Peter Pan that makes it so timeless?
I think a lot of adults like to watch it and remember when they were young and had fun with all their mates - we can all relate to that. It's a really fun story, a complete fantasy world - you've got mermaids, Tiger Lily, Tinker Bell, pirates... it's like they've taken all the fun elements from all the Disney stories and put them into one. Plus the fact that Peter Pan flies; there's no other Disney character that does that... except Dumbo.
Are you looking forward to the flying?
Yes, I'm very excited about it. I've already had one harness fitted, which was quite painful, but they assured me that with practice it will become easier.
If you could fly anywhere in the world right now, where would you fly to?
I'd fly to Lapland and have a proper icy cold Christmas. I love being cold at Christmas, I love putting my ear muffs and woolly hat on and walking around doing late night shopping.
Hopefully we'll have a cold Christmas here in Manchester this year...
I hope so. I really enjoy Christmas at home. We come to the Christmas lights switch-on every year, and me and my mum do a lot of late night shopping. And it's nice because all the restaurants stay open late, so you do your shopping, get really cold, but then go in a restaurant and have a nice meal and warm yourself up again.
Peter Pan marks your theatre debut. Are you nervous about treading the boards for the first time?
I was worried about people's reaction to the performance, but I was told that once I'm on stage I can't see the faces anyway because of the lights, so I'm not too bothered. I think with it being in Manchester I'm a lot more relaxed, because it's my home town so hopefully people will be supportive regardless. I've got all my family coming for the first night, 17 family and friends. If this was in London it wouldn't have been easy for everyone to get down.
What's in the pipeline for you after Peter Pan?
I can't give away too much but I'm in talks with a TV channel to go over to America and do some stuff over there. And over in the States, when I did EA, I met some directors who want to work with me, so I'll be heading stateside in January for about three or four weeks.
It has been reported in the media that you are planning to launch a music career. Is that true?
Yes. I recorded some tracks this year and it was all going really well, but then the EA and Peter Pan jobs came up and I couldn't do everything at the same time. I decided to concentrate on my acting this year and go back to the studio next year. The producers that we work with are still in contact with us; we're just waiting for the right time.
Last year you modelled for Ultimo and La Senza. Do you have any plans for more modelling work next year?
Not at the minute. I've been approached to do modelling for underwear and fragrances and that was an easy route for me to go down, if I wanted to. But I don't think I can be taken seriously as an actress after doing all that. I want to get my foot in the door as an actress and then go back to the modelling later on, if I need to.
Do you find that your looks can sometimes work against you in your acting career?
Sometimes, yes. I've been up for some auditions, where I play a scruffy single mother with lots of children for example, and they said I don't look the part - my skin is not bad enough and this and that. But I say that's what you have make-up artists for; I'm sure you can make someone look really rough. I think a lot of actors share my experience. Everyone suits different roles and it's a case of finding the right ones for me.
Good thing your fiance, Marcus Bent, does not seem to mind your not-bad-enough skin. Do you have any plans of tying the knot with him anytime soon?
Oh no, not yet. I'm far too busy with work. We're just enjoying the engagement for now.
Gemma Atkinson stars in Peter Pan at Manchester's Opera House from Dec 6, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009. For more information on the show visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.