Digital Spy's Soap Scoop editor Daniel Kilkelly recently spoke to Stephanie about her role as Sinead, and he delved deep into topics such as on screen relationships, how she came to the decision to take Hollyoaks over other job offers and a potential direction into music. Here is the interview in full, as well as the bonus bits!
Over The Rainbow star Stephanie Davis makes her debut in Hollyoaks next week as part of the Channel 4 soap's new O'Connor clan. Viewers see her outspoken character Sinead for the first time when she starts at Hollyoaks High with her younger brother Finn. As well as the pressure of moving schools, Sinead also has a stressful home life as her stepmum Diane is going through a second round of IVF treatment. DS recently chatted with Stephanie to find out more.
How did you end up with the part in Hollyoaks?
"Well, I came off Over The Rainbow and Arlene Phillips asked me to come down and see her about Flashdance: The Musical. She asked me about the part of Gloria and being the understudy. I was in London at the time and returned home to see my family for a little bit, and then [casting director] Dorothy Andrews rang and asked me to come and see her over two things, and I didn't know what they were for. When I got there, I found out that one was for Hollyoaks, so I said, 'Brill!' I did one read-through but it was really quick, so at first I didn't think I'd got the part!"
What happened after that?
"I realised that Hollyoaks was what I wanted to do, and I had to let Arlene Phillips know what I was going to do about Flashdance. Hollyoaks made a really quick decision after the one read-through and told me that I got the part. Then I let Arlene and Flashdance know that I was going to take Hollyoaks. In a way, I'm gutted that I let Arlene down, but I'm so glad because I've had a fantastic time and I'm loving every minute of it."
When you left Over The Rainbow, your main ambition still seemed to be musical theatre - is that completely on the backburner now?
"Well, obviously I'd still love to do musical theatre and I'm really into music - I write my own songs on the piano. But I'd love to stay in Hollyoaks for quite a while - longer than a year and hopefully two or three years. I'm also working on some of my own tracks at the moment that I've written, so I'd like to bring them out."
We all know you from Over The Rainbow, but have you had TV roles before?
"Yeah, I had TV roles before Over The Rainbow - including Holby City, Doctors, The Outsiders with Nigel Harman and Parents of the Band with Jimmy Nail. I also did a TV advert, so I've done quite a few things before this."
How does Hollyoaks compare to theatre and the work you were doing on Over The Rainbow?
"I love it - I think it's brilliant! It really is very different. It's totally the opposite, the other end of the scale - because you've got to really play down your performances because you're acting as if it's real. So my character Sinead is now the other half of me - you've really got to put your mind to it like that. It's really good and I'm loving it, especially being back home because I love Liverpool."
How would you describe Sinead?
"She's very mischievous! She's a typical teenager in most ways, but she'll definitely be mischievous. There'll be a bit of trouble! She thinks that she rules the school in a way! But she's very protective over her family, especially her stepmum and her little brother. And obviously we come in with a bang! First of all, she's quite a boisterous character, and then eventually I think she takes on the adult role in the family and becomes more mature. She has to grow up quite quickly."
Did her parents deliberately name her after the singer Sinead O'Connor?
"Yeah, I think they did! Sinead's dad is really into his music, and they do make reference to it in certain scenes!"
Does Sinead have a good relationship with her stepmum?
"She does! But Sinead is quite hard to read sometimes. She's a bit upset that her stepmum is so desperate for a baby of her own, and I think she and her little brother are thinking, 'Well, aren't we good enough for you?' in a way. And put it this way, Diane will go to desperate measures to have a baby of her own. So I think she is close to her stepmum, but she doesn't show it too much. In terms of the family, she wants things to stay the same and doesn't want her relationships to change. She's very protective over them, and it puts up a wall. But as soon as Diane goes through the IVF treatment, it hits a certain point where it changes for Sinead. She loves her stepmum so much and you can tell they've got a special bond. There's some real deep, deep scenes coming up."
As Sinead is a bit unsure about the IVF treatment, does she feel like Diane and her dad Rob are ignoring her wishes?
"At the start, she's really against it and she does feel like she's being ignored, but then suddenly it all changes. You'll know what I mean when you see it on screen! It's really deep stuff and the story goes all over the place! But in the end, she's just more bothered about looking after her mum and keeping her family safe. She just wants it to be happy families, but I think deep down it never will be - something will always crop up…"
Does Sinead get on well with her brother Finn?
"Well, obviously it's a brother and sister relationship so she is sometimes quite moody with him! But she loves him loads, and you'll see in one of the first scenes that Amber Sharpe is being a bit nasty to him, so Sinead goes over to have it out with her! But then they end up really good friends. After that, when Sinead's at home, she's nice to him - but when she's with her friends, she's a bit horrible to him!"
Where is Sinead's biological mum?
"She left Sinead when she was three, and when Finn was a newborn baby. Whether she'll ever come back, I don't know - we'll have to wait and see!"
Who have you been sharing most of your screen time with?
"It's mostly been with the rest of the O'Connors, but I've been doing a bit with the Sharpes and a few of the other characters - I'm not allowed to say too much about that, though!"
Are there any potential love interests for Sinead?
"At the moment, no - but there will be! I'm sure there will be! You'll have to wait and see!"
Do you mind playing a character who's younger than you?
"No, because I get to play the schoolgirl and then after my first year, I'll get to play the Hollyoaks babe. So I'm getting the best of both worlds. I don't mind it at all, I'm actually liking all of the school scenes - Sinead gets to do the school thing and the family thing. I'm loving every minute of it and the storylines are fantastic."
Would you like to do any singing on the show?
"I don't know - maybe I should keep that separate! I'm not too sure really, because I don't think Sinead is the type of character who would want to get up and sing - I think that would be her worst nightmare! But in real life, hopefully in the next few years, I'll have some music out."
Who have you bonded with in the cast?
"Everyone really! Particularly the new guy Emmett, who's playing the new bad boy Brendan - he's really cool. And there's some of the old regulars like Ashley Taylor Dawson, Alice Barlow, Carley Stenson and Jorgie Porter - I'm friends with all of them. Everyone's lovely. We're all like one big group."
Is it a relief to have so many new cast members joining at the same time?
"Yes, we're all in the same boat, so obviously it's different to when just one person comes in - there's more security around you this way. But I'm really settled now - I feel like I've been here forever. I'm taking it all in and appreciating everything that's happened. To have come from Over The Rainbow straight into Hollyoaks, I just feel so lucky. Unemployment is something like 90% in this industry, so I appreciate everything."
You've always been a big fan of Hollyoaks - so is this a dream role for you?
"Yeah it is, it's always been one of my favourite TV shows! Back when I was doing my GCSEs, I'd always be watching Hollyoaks, but from my point of view I was concentrating on the continuity, the camera angles and the acting. My mum would say, 'It's okay for them - but you've got to get your studies behind you!' But I was never interested - I'd always be tapping my foot underneath the table or watching Hollyoaks, and now I can't believe I'm in it! I honestly can't describe how ecstatic I am, and it's not really hit me yet."
You've been filming for a few weeks now - so have you learned more about your character as you've gone along?
"Yeah, I have learned a lot more about Sinead and she's changed quite a lot. She actually changes her moods quite a bit, she's a funny little thing! I think she's going to bring a lot of good fun and mischief to Hollyoaks, and we'll just have to wait and see what happens! I'm excited myself to see what else will happen, so I can't wait!"
And what do you think of the decision to bring in a Liverpudlian family?
"It's brilliant, because we're the first Scouse family in 15 years - which is fantastic, that's really good. I also think our family has got some really good storylines and I'm working with Alex Fletcher, who I absolutely love to bits. As I've said, we've got some really deep scenes and I think it's similar to what people are going through in real life - I think it will really touch people. I've definitely become more aware of the issues that we've had to cover, because you don't realise that this goes on and how hard these things are."
As a fan of the show, what do you make of its new direction?
"Well, we've got Paul Marquess, the new producer, and he's fantastic. I think everyone's going to see a massive change in this next year. By next year's Soap Awards, Hollyoaks is going to be up and coming and there'll be so much going on. Everyone here is saying that it's going to be fantastic, especially with the storylines - I'm telling you, it's going to be brilliant."
