Faye Brookes became a household name when she took on the role of Kate Connor in Coronation Street, for which she was voted Best Newcomer at the 22nd National Television Awards. After spending four years on the famous cobbles, she left to reach the final of ITV’s Dancing On Ice. However, her first love is musical theatre. She’s starred in shows including Chicago, Legally Blonde, Shrek and Strictly Ballroom and is currently on tour in Burlesque, the Musical.
When we start our video call, she’s backstage applying her makeup for a matinee performance. I’m sitting at my kitchen table, marvelling at her ability to create the perfect winged liner whilst chatting with me. She’s great company – much like the Faye that thousands of people follow on social media, she’s no-holds-barred frank, funny, and disarmingly friendly. The general vibe is casual catch-up with a pal, and by the end of our conversation, I’ve taken notes on her favourite eyeliner (Maybelline), what she’s currently reading, and whereabouts in the Cotswolds I could bump into Liam Gallagher. But first, I want to know all about Burlesque and how it feels to take on the role made famous in the movie by Cher.
“Yeah, no pressure”, she laughs. “Obviously, I've grown up with Cher – Mermaids is one of my favourite films, and I think people forget how incredibly talented this woman has always been. I was a fan of the film, and I had no idea what the musical was going to be like in comparison. I feel very honoured to be stepping into Cher's shoes, but also even more excited to put my own stamp on such an iconic role.”
I know you started your career in musical theatre. What do you love about it?
Oh my goodness, that's a really good question. I was very fortunate growing up, in that whether I was pretending that everybody was students in my school and I was teaching them all science, or dressing up and doing performances with my little brother, running and swimming for my county, or talking about potentially going into contemporary dance, I had parents that encouraged every single avenue I pursued. Because of that love, that nurturing, I found myself really gravitating towards acting.
At my secondary school there was this incredible faculty, and they took me under their wing and just sort of nurtured little Faye. I ended up being asked to go to Pendleton College [in Salford] and they specialised in musical theatre. That prepped me for drama school: it was military. You wore black, you showed up on time, you did extracurricular work. You were eating, sleeping, and breathing musical theatre, and I was in my element.
It’s a famously tough industry to get into. What gave you the confidence?
I’ve had to prove to myself that I am strong enough to survive this industry and be successful. As much as my family are my biggest cheerleaders, they're not there for the bad days. You don't really want to share that downside all the time, because it can be perceived as negative, as if you have failed. But that has only built me up, as an individual and as a woman.
It's cut-throat – it really is. They're literally lining up young girls ready to go because I'm not this spring chicken anymore, and that's okay because I'm going into a whole new era of my life. I am turning 40 next year and I know who I am. I feel very confident in my personal life, in my marriage, so I'm ready for whatever next chapter is going to come my way.
Not only are we put in a box as women, but we're put in a box with our age, and I’m just trying to enjoy every role that comes my way. This character is older and wiser… and if this character is an icon like Cher, just enjoy it. That is the gift. This industry has taught me is that everything has a timing, and this specific show has taught me so much in a short space of time, about life and where you're meant to be. I'm so unbelievably grateful every day.
You've played Roxie Hart, Princess Fiona, Elle Woods and many more fabulous roles. Is there any part you still long to play?
Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors or Sally Bowles from Cabaret. Those are my two roles that are a little bit of me and a lot of challenge. I was at school when we first did Little Shop of Horrors, and I was just a little ensemble member watching all of the people in the years above me, and I just idolised them. If I [ever] get to play that role of Audrey, it'll be a full circle moment.
In fact, I think about that every time that I get to be in front of a live audience: there must be so many girls in that audience wishing and hoping for a chance to work in this industry, or even dreaming of this role, and I'm playing it. That grounds me every day.
If you're talking about the sort of roles that people dream of, I imagine lots of actors dream of getting a role in Coronation Street…
Absolutely, that was a dream for me. That happened and my life changed overnight. Thank you, Coronation Street, thank you, ITV.
Was leaving the show a hard decision?
I think the writers had got to a point where they were like, ‘Listen, Faye, we don't know what else to do with you because literally, you've cried every tear. You have really gone to town on every storyline.’ It gets to a point where you've done four years, and you're in every storyline, and they need to bring in some fresh meat. And at that point, Bhavna, who played Rana on-screen partner, had left; they'd killed off my brother Shayne Ward; and they were talking about my dad becoming really ill.
I was like, my family are getting a little bit thin on the ground and I would love to go and enjoy live theatre again, so if there's no storyline here for me right now, I'll go because I don't want to waste a second or miss an opportunity out there in the big bad world.
I didn't know what was around the corner – I didn't know Dancing on Ice would even be an option for me, and it was. So, it was hardest thing I've ever done, but the best thing I ever did.
Would you ever go back to Corrie?
I'd have to go back for a really good reason. It can't just be that Faye's back in town and playing Kate Connor. I've got to go and really sink my teeth into something. [Maybe] be a baddie – I'm literally in my villain era, and I'm ready for it. I do love that the door has been left open, and I am thankful for it.
I sound so grateful for everything, but I really am. I feel like you only reap what you sow, so if you are constantly sending out that you are grateful for everything, it's only going to come back. Do you know what I mean? I’m putting it out there that I'm happy and grateful because I want the blessings to keep coming.
You live near Cirencester, right?
We do, in the Cotswolds, and I have found my peace: my little corner of the world. I can't believe I've finally moved out to the sticks and I am so content. I'm happy if I lose signal and have no Wi-Fi. I'm in the middle of the field with my dogs, wellies on, and I don't care if it’s absolutely torrential rain, glorious sunshine, or six inches of snow, I'm in my happy place.
The Cotswolds has become home. My husband was based there, because ten years ago he decided to build a theatre in the Cotswolds [The Barn Theatre in Cirencester]. Everyone thought he was a madman, and he has proven them all wrong. Now he's got two shows in the West End, and he's about to produce another show next year. He is absolutely in his element right now.
Who else is in your Cotswolds clique?
Doctor Dawn from Embarrassing Bodies isn't too far away, and she's actually a really good friend. If ever I'm ill, Dawn is getting a call. It happened on this tour – I was like, ‘Dawn, help me!’ She is gold, and she's a patron of my husband's theatre as well.
Michael Morpurgo is down the road. He is a beautiful man. He gave a reading from one of his books in our local church at Christmas which was a spine-tingling moment where you're like, ‘is this really my life? Am I sat in a church at Christmas with Michael Morpurgo?’
And then we've obviously got Laurence [Llewelyn Bowen] who is a fantastic member of the community, walking around in that flamboyant suit. Who else have we got? Liam Gallagher's just moved to [the area]. He was in our local pub the other night.
I wanted to ask about your social media. You seem to do a great job of balancing aspirational and relatable. Is that something you’ve set out to achieve, or has it just come naturally?
Thank you very much, you've made my day. I love that my social media is mine. We used to get fan mail at Corrie, and people would personally write to me – like pen to paper – and I think there's something in staying connected with those people. Without them I wouldn't be this successful. There wouldn't be this love for wherever I'm going next, or whatever job I'm taking on.
I would love people to keep supporting me, wherever my journey goes. With social media, I [want to] share what my life really is without giving it all away – so that I've still got a little piece for me and my husband, because there is a line and you’ve to have some boundaries.
I think I'm very open about my mental health. I'm very open about what it takes to look like this every day – and it takes a village! You have to be as real and as authentic as you can, and hopefully, when people see my social media and then meet me they're the same person. I do enjoy it; I actually love being creative and having fun with it.
So, is there anything you think would surprise people to know about you?
I just really want to just take care of myself, and through that, I'm sort of hoping that other people take care of themselves as well. Someone said to me, ‘You overshare’, and I was like, ‘Maybe that's what I'm meant to do. Maybe I'm oversharing because I feel like that's how I connect with people.’
Faye Brookes stars in Burlesque the Musical, a glittering, high-voltage theatrical event packed with powerhouse vocals, jaw-dropping choreography, and outrageous glamour, featuring songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Jess Folley, Todrick Hall, and Steven Antin
Step inside a club where sequins shimmer, seduction sparkles, and a single song can change your life forever. When Ali heads to New York searching for her mother, Tess Richarde, she is swept into a dazzling underground world of ambition, temptation, music, and desire - discovering not only her extraordinary voice, but the family she never knew she needed.
The nationwide tour comes to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre between 17-21 November and will be at New Theatre Oxford in March 2027. For more information and to book tickets visit burlesqueonstage.com.
