Abi tells the naked truth about Perth show

Mar 17 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PIN-UP Abi Titmuss reckons she’ll find Perth audiences hard to beat anywhere in Britain.

After completing six sell-out performances of her latest play, the glamour girl yesterday thanked Fair City theatre-goers for welcoming her into their bosom.

Abi (33), who achieved phenomenal modelling success before she turned to acting, admitted she was “blown away” by the reaction to The Naked Truth, which kicked-off its UK-wide run at Perth Theatre.

“It has been a dream, absolutely incredible,” she told the PA over tea.

“Every night was sold out and they added an extra matinee performance, which shocked us.

“Before coming to Perth we did a charity night and never thought people could be so friendly and responsive again.

“But we couldn’t believe the Perth audiences. They were absolutely brilliant.

“People in the street were coming up to me asking for tickets because they couldn’t get them.

“I was even mobbed by a group of women who recognised me in Tesco.”

The Naked Truth features an all-female cast which also includes Emmerdale and Fat Friends actress Lisa Riley, Julie Buckfield (ex-Hollyoaks) and Trudie Goodwin from The Bill.

Abi, who previously earned praise for her performances in a trio of West End productions, plays superfit Gabby, who teaches the Yorkshire women how to pole dance for a charity event.

But she is unconcerned that Dave Simpson’s adult comedy has been accused by certain critics of “dumbing down” theatre.

“People of all different ages came along in Perth,” she said.

“We were worried that some jokes might not go down well with the older ones but we could see them laughing.

“It’s not high-brow stuff it’s accessible forget-your-worries theatre.

“I’ve done the heavy Arthur Miller work. That was my first ever job, but this is not something people are going to go away and worry about.

“We even spotted a few feather boas in the audience at the weekend!”

Refreshingly honest and articulate, the teacher’s daughter freely admits she is not yet the finished article in acting terms.

But such is her dedication to the craft that she undertook three months of gruelling ballet and gym training to prepare for her elegant pole dance at the show’s finale.

“After my first lesson I was dancing all the way home, humming Britney Spears,” Abi explained.

“It was terrifying yet liberating being able to make up my own routine.

“I thought I could do what a professional dancer would do.

“Gabby did pole dancing to pay the bills, so this was her chance to do something beautiful and graceful, her moment in the spotlight.

“Flashdance, my theme, wasn’t originally in the play but it’s one of my favourites and I was allowed to change it and, of course, Comic Relief have been dancing to it.”

Abi revealed the show almost never happened after disaster struck during the build-up.

“In the first week of rehearsals I tore my bicep and trapped a nerve under my thoracic vertebrae so my whole arm was in agony,” she said.

“I couldn’t move it or use it but by opening night I had created a new routine.

“Even though I hadn’t been able to practise much I just had to do it and the adrenalin kicked in and I was fine.

“Now I hurt all the time in my hands, wrists and elbows, but it’s totally worth it.

“When my friend saw my muscles, my best friend said to me, ‘Never mind turning down Mickey Rourke, you’re turning into Mickey Rourke!’”

Having turned the fame game to her own advantage since first hitting the headlines in 2002, media-savvy Titmuss is guarded against probes into her personal life.

However, she insists her own rapid rise to the modelling summit – which saw her earn a reputed £30,000 a day – provides proof women can be “both sexy and taken seriously”.

“I can’t get my self-esteem from things that are written about me, whether good or bad,” Abi insisted.

“People jump to conclusions and say I’m just an actress who pole dances, and don’t take me seriously. But of course, I would love to be respected and I have to earn that.

“I’m finally getting back to being true to myself and doing what I had trained for.

“Before I came into the public eye I did three years part-time nursing and full-time acting classes, which was a terrible struggle.

“I remember going to the cash point and not being able to draw £10. Life went a bit weird for a while but I appreciate things a bit more now and I’m just really happy with life.”