Charlie Brooks is best known for playing Janine Butcher in EastEnders and that’s a masterclass in evil if we ever saw one.
Her character has the fourth highest kill count on the Square, just behind Nasty Nick Cotton.
So, it’s safe to say she’s had plenty of practice for her latest villainous role, The Childcatcher in the stage adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In this week’s 60 Seconds, the 43-year-old talks about the future of soaps, quitting alcohol, and the technique she’s using to make her character extra scary.
The Childcatcher is an infamously terrifying character. Have you got any tricks up your sleeve to make your version extra scary?
I think because through history, women have been seen as the nurturing, ‘safe’ gender, to have a woman kidnapping children in itself is uncomfortable and weird.
I didn’t really know where to start with the character and how to make her terrifying but I think leaning into the almost drug-induced high that she gets from smelling children is the angle that I’m coming at it from.
Each role has its own unique challenges. What has been the biggest challenge with this one?
This has been one of the biggest challenges, if I’m honest, because there’s a song, and I’m really uncomfortable around singing. I have a lot of fear around it, despite loving musicals when I was little.
And how is the singing going now – do you feel like you’ve nailed it?
Look, I’m never going to be Sarah Brightman, that we know – and it’s not like I have to belt it out, because it’s a talky song. But safe to say, the crippling fear has subsided and I’m having fun with it now.
Are you getting a lot of boos in this role?
It depends on how lively an audience is – some evenings, we get loads of boos, which is great, and others, not so many. If I haven’t had many boos, I’m thinking, ‘Oh, God, how can I be more awful?’
From Janine to your other recent stage role as Ursula in The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, you’re brilliant at playing villains. But do you ever get fed up with being the bad guy?
No, because I find these roles much more interesting.
Looking at why these characters do what they do and finding sympathy with somebody that you don’t necessarily like is a really interesting journey.
Janine is currently just over a year into a five-year jail sentence. Does that mean we’ll have to wait until 2028 to see her in the Square again?
I have no idea. I don’t know if the soaps will still be around in five year’s time – who knows what will happen?
I think people are watching TV very differently these days. But I always say ‘never say never’ with Janine. EastEnders has been a blessing for me, it was my training ground and I love going back there.
What’s the funniest fan encounter you’ve ever had?
Somebody gave me a Bible once and said, ‘God help you, Janine.’
I know you’ve described reaching 40 as a bit of a turning point. Does life truly begin at 40, do you think?
It’s a bit up and down to be honest, but I definitely made some big changes in my life when I was approaching 40, which I think have really helped me grow as a human.
But then you’ll go ten steps backwards, so it’s all just a journey, isn’t it? But acceptance is the answer, and I do think my best years are in front of me still.
One of the things you’ve changed is you’ve stopped drinking. How challenging did you find that?
There’s a real letting go process that happens when you stop drinking. At first it was difficult, because I was attached to ‘funtime Charlie party girl’.
I’m still fun in my work, but I like to go to bed at 10pm and read my book and I’m actually much more introverted than I thought.
It’s a bit of mask you wear when you drink, it’s a social lubricant that eases what can be quite dull and painful small talk.
So I’m not necessarily drawn to the same events that I was, and I’ve got much more comfortable in my own skin.
Do you have anything you’re itching to do at this stage in your career?
My nervous system can’t take theatre, I really feel the fear, but then I do it anyway – which I think makes me very brave [laughs].
And now obviously the show’s opened, I would definitely do more theatre – I’d love to work with a new writer at the Royal Court, and do some more work with the National.
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And on screen I’d love to do an epic Game of Thrones-style show, with a fantastic strong female lead.
You won I’m a Celebrity… back in 2012. Would you fancy doing any other reality shows? I thought the celebrity version of The Traitors might appeal…
I was obsessed with The Traitors, but I would be s*** at it, let me tell you. I couldn’t lie, I would feel too bad – I’d be the worst contestant ever.
Janine would be epic, but Charlie would be useless.
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