Bernie Nolan Interview
I talked to singer/actor Bernie Nolan who had several hit records including I’m In The Mood For Dancing. She also appeared in the top cop show in the UK The Bill.
David A Ellis talked to singer/actor Bernie Nolan at the Empire theatre Liverpool when she starred in the musical Our Benny.
DE: Would you please tell me a bit about your recording career with your sisters?
BN: We recorded on EMI with Bruce Welch as our producer. We made several singles, which didn’t do anything. Then we did an album called Twenty Great Hits with WEA. That went on to be number one. We then went with CBS records and made Spirit, Body And Soul. In November 1979 we released I’m In The Mood For Dancing, which was in the charts for around sixteen weeks.
DE: When did you decide to change direction and become an actor?
BN: I never made a conscious decision to become an actor. My sisters and I did panto every year. The husband of one of the girls in the show I was in had a rep company. I decided to do rep, which was fun and gave me acting experience. They mainly staged musicals and it was a great grounding.
When I left the group in 1994 I did a musical called Oh What A Night. After this, Bill Kenwright’s office got in touch and asked if I’d audition for the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers. I got that and did it for three years. From that I got Brookside, then The Bill. Nothing was planned – it all just seemed to happen.
DE: Did you have any training to be an actor or did you just fall into it?
BN: No, I didn’t have training. I associate with the lyrics when I’m singing and that is a form of acting, if you do it well. I think that is why the transition wasn’t that difficult.
DE: Would you tell me about your role in Our Benny?
BN: I play Sally Wragg. Sam Kane plays my husband Joe. We adopt Benny and Nell and it’s about their growing up. It’s a really nice story. I believe it’s a famous and popular story in Liverpool.
DE: Finally, Out of all the acting you have done do you have a favourite?
BN: Stage acting I would say Mrs Johnstone; it’s a brilliant role for a woman. I loved both my roles in Brookside and The Bill – they were both women I could associate with and liked.
DE: Thank you Bernie.
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