Blood Brothers actress uses pain of loss in musical’s climax

Maureen Nolan has revealed she speaks to her late sister Bernie every night on stage.

For the past nine years, Maureen has starred in Willy Russell’s smash-hit musical, Blood Brothers, as Mrs Johnstone.

But the role has taken on new meaning after the sad passing of Bernie who also played the character from cancer last July, aged just 52.

Maureen says the showbiz family are still trying to get over the shock of losing their sister, but the 60-year-old has her own way of dealing with the pain by channelling her emotions during the musical’s dramatic climax.

“In some respects, I don’t think we will ever get over it,” Maureen said.

“It’s the same as it would be for anyone who has lost someone as close as she was to us. I find it really hard to express in words.

“She was such a life-force and we thought she’d live to 103, so it was such a shock. It’s still a shock.

“But I use the show as a cathartic experience. During the climax, I talk to Bernie. I use it as a way to get in touch with her.

“When you lose someone, you can either drown in the sorrow of it or you get on with things and Bernie’s motto was always to get on with it. We all try to do that for her and this is my way of doing it.

“We feel sorrow at different times during the day, when we hear her music and so on, so I use the show to get in touch with her.”

Maureen describes her role as Mrs Johnstone, the mother of tragic twins separated at birth, as her dream job.

“I think it’s the best role in the world. It’s my favourite part and my favourite musical.

“I identify so much with the role. We were born in a council estate in Dublin and my mum was really like Mrs Johnstone her bark was worse than her bite.

“It struck a chord with me and I think the audience identifies with parts of it too. She’s a feisty character and I get to sing haunting songs. What more could you want? Next year would be my tenth in Blood Brothers.

“I’m contracted until the end of November and I’ve done the last five contracts. It’s always a wait-and-see situation but I’m hoping they renew me. It starts again from January, after the panto season, to May.

“I will probably do it again. I think it would be silly to leave because I doubt there’s a better role out there for me.”

Maureen is the fourth Nolan sister to play the role of Mrs Johnstone. Bernie came first, followed by Linda and Denise. Also part of this current tour is Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow, who is returning in the role of the narrator.

Maureen is full of praise for her co-star and knows he’ll receive a great reception when the tour comes to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre this week.

“I’ve worked with Marti before on the show. Everyone in the cast loves him and he’s such a nice guy. He’s lived, as we all know, but he’s come out the other side so well. He’s laid back, professional, always on time and gives it his all.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve heard screaming women when the narrator walks on. We all giggle about it backstage but I think he’s mortified by it!”

Much has been made of the fact that a rift had developed amongst the Nolans in recent years, but Maureen says that’s all in the past.

“We were back on speaking terms long before Bernie died thankfully,” she continued.

“It’s brilliant. It’s back to where it was and we are all very happy about that. It was heartbreaking, after being so close, but that’s family. There were other people involved. Everyone who has family, especially a big family, will know what it’s like. People understood.”

Maureen and her sisters haven’t ruled out another tour and she reveals that concerts had been planned before Bernie passed away.

“We did have plans for another tour Coleen, Linda and myself and we had been planning it with Bernie. We’d booked dates. It would have been her dream to do it again.

“That didn’t happen, so we considered carrying on and including her on the big screen, but maybe it was too soon. It might be too heartbreaking for us ever to do, but never say never.”

Blood Brothers, King’s Theatre, Glasgow, from November 3 to 15.