Worcestershire | Archive | 2005 | July | 29
From the archive, first published Friday 29th Jul 2005.
Former Footballers' Wives star Susie Amy swaps her role as Chardonnay to play a blind woman at Malvern Theatres.
SHE'S probably best known for her role in hit ITV television drama Footballers' Wives, which kept over 7.5 million viewers glued to their seats and inspired one of last year's most popular new baby names - Chardonnay.
But Susie Amy has come a long way since making it big on the small screen.
The 24-year-old left the hugely successful show after two years playing the popular character and she admits the decision was a big risk. "They wanted me to go back to do a third series, but I knew if I carried on I'd be type-casting myself," says Susie, who is dating Brit actor and musician Max Beasley.
"It is hard to walk away from something so successful and I felt very loyal to the cast and crew but I had to break away and try something different.
"The fact that I left without a job to go to was pretty scary, but, thankfully, it has worked out."
Since Chardonnay's death from anorexia, Susie has gone on to star in films alongside acting greats such as Dennis Hopper and Andy Garcia in Modigliani and House of 9.
But with the success came an onslaught of negative press, with tabloids claiming her bid to find fame in the US met with failure.
But the up-and-coming star laughs off the bad publicity, saying she didn't even set foot on American soil.
"I got a part in La Femme Musketeer alongside Gerard Depardieu," she explains. "It was made by an American film company but it was filmed in Croatia. I didn't even go out to America."
Keen to explore all aspects of acting and shrug off her image of Chardonnay, Susie is now touring the UK in the lead part of a theatre production of Wait Until Dark - the classic thriller about a blind woman defending her home against ruthless conmen. The 1967 film version starred Audrey Hepburn in the same role which earnt her a her fifth Oscar nomination.
"It's a very challenging role and that's why I decided to go for it," said Susie, who will star in the play at Malvern Theatres from Monday, August 8.
"It's really exciting and I'm having a lot of fun,
"I'm looking forward to coming to Malvern, I've never been before but I've heard it's beautiful and hopefully I'll get some time out to explore."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008