There are few people who can boast a career in acting, singing and presenting, but Leon Lopez is not one your run of the mill soap actors, he is something special. Not only is he intelligent and bright, good looking and a hunk, but he is also a downright, down to Earth chap who just so happens to have an amazing voice. From Jerome in Brookside to Tank Top in Hollyoaks in The City,
Now then Mr Lopez, you’ve been a busy boy over the last couple of years, but before we talk to you about what you’re up to now, can we just talk about your fantastic career to date. As a fresh faced youngster from Liverpool’s Art Centre you got the role of Jerome Johnson in
IT was a bit strange to be honest. I was in a band at the time, well we were more like a harmony group, kind of like Boys II men. And at that point we were in the middle of recording all the demo's that where going to be put forward for our album. Our manager had secured a development deal with a record company and if all went well we were going to be signed so when Brookside came up, the only reason I went to the audition was because a couple of the members of the band had an argument and rehearsals where cancelled. Then when they offered me the part, it was only 4 episodes to begin with; I thought it would interfere with the band so nearly turned it down until my manager at the time told me to take it. Sadly our manager passed away part way through that year and the band fell apart.
From Brookside, you went on to Merseybeat, Court Room and Holby City, but more recently, you graced our screens as the loveable ladies man, Tanktop in Hollyoaks and The City…a show that has proper taken off in popularity and come from E4, to Channel 4 and is now being aired in the US. How do you feel to be a cult hero and did you think that Hollyoaks in The City would be so big?
I wouldn’t say I was a cult hero ... ha ha... I loved Hollyoaks in The City. The Cast where amazing, it was filmed up at Mersey TV (well Lime Pictures as its now called) back at home in Liverpool so I got to spend 8 months with my family and friends, and the programme and story lines where so out there that every day going into work was such fun. The whole show was supposed to be a little tongue in cheek but also dealt with some major issues too. Unfortunately I don’t think Channel 4 felt the same love for it that we and the cult audience that the show gained did. I have people messaging me on Myspace saying how they youtube every episode to watch it as it’s not on DVD. I always find it strange, when Hollyoaks Let Loose finished, E4 run that show over and over again, but our show, whose viewing figures knocked spots off Let Loose and even competed with Hollyoaks day time at points doesn’t get a look in.. Oh well at least I have the memories...lol...
During Hollyoaks in the City you worked alongside Philip Olivier and the two of you seem to have a fantastic and genuine chemistry borne of a long friendship, how long have you two known each other and did you enjoy working with him on the show?
Ilove working with Phil, We met almost 10 years ago now when I started
One thing that may have been responsible for Hollyoaks cult status was you strutting your stuff in your pants and a vest…you’re obviously a hunk and have a great body, do you go to the gym and how do you get the time?
Ha ha, a hunk... Try telling my friends and family that, they would probably call me more of a chunk! The gym is my biggest leisure activity. Instead of spending an hour or 2 in the pub each day I go the gym. I socialize and chat to every one to the point where my friends get annoyed at times when we work out together. I love it. It’s again through Phil O that I got started in the gym. It was a kind of friendly rivalry we started to get rid of my, lets call it, "puppy fat" I had in my early years of
Somewhere in between doing all the TV and presenting work you did, you surprised a lot of people by showing them that there was more to you than just muscle and a cheeky smile, wowing the nation on Soapstar Superstar with your voice and your personality. Was Soapstar Superstar the launch pad for your new move into becoming a solo artiste or was it planned long before?
Well as I mentioned earlier I have always been into music since my first band and even before that. Once my band broke up I kept writing with producers and getting demos together, song writing is always what I wanted to do. When I left Brookie I decided to give the music thing ago properly and my manager at the time put a selection of the tracks together and we approached a few companies who where interested but again things never worked out. I then joined another band which was far too pop for me but I stuck it out for 2 years and during this time I met my present manager and we became friends. After In The City he approached me to start recoding again and I wasn't really into the idea as I thought I was past it, and had done with music and the industry as it’s such a tough game. But then when Soapstar Superstar happened and then people started asking why I wasn’t recording and if I was going to release, I approached
Did you enjoy being on Soapstar Superstar and was there anything you did not enjoy about it?
I loved the performing, I love being onstage. I didn’t like the reality aspect as it just didn’t seem real. The cameras where always there to catch the tears for me, and that just got a bit boring after a while and I became like the token cry baby... Yes I’m emotional but I do smile too at times... ha ha... Oh well. But over all it opened so many doors for me and this last year I have not stopped working. I also made some great friends
We have mentioned about you becoming a male solo artist, tell us about what you’ve been working on, where we can listen to you and when we can get our hands your music…
The 1st single "Love Got In The Way" was rush released kind of as a taster of the album (plus it was the 1st track recorded and ready) but we found it almost impossible to get radio play, None of the national stations would play it so it was a struggle to let people know it was out there. The video got good rotation but again if people don't heat it on radio, they don’t know it’s out there. Any way with a lot of support through MySpace etc we managed to get the club release to number 2 in the club breakers chart which was cool. The second single has been written by Gary Barlow and was going to be released in October along with the album but the "Rent" the musical came along and although we have known about this project for a while we didn’t anticipate how full on it was going to be and the album has been put on hold till the new year now. It was hard enough promoting a single with everyday to spare, we don’t want this track or the album to slip in the same way the first one did as the track is far too good. More planning and time is being taken for the follow up. But for now the 1st single is still for download on itunes and there are promo copies of the album (500 in total) being sold at the Duke of York Theatre where Rent is playing for anyone who wants to hear a copy early
You probably get asked this a lot, but which do you prefer, singing or acting, or even presenting?
I love all of them for different reasons. Again acting on stage is a million miles away from acting on TV. I love the live buzz of theatre, but I love performing for TV and then watching the completed edited version back. It’s amazing what they do with TV at the moment. The budget they had for Hollyoaks in The City was so small, but the quality of the show matched anything that was on screen at the time.
Speaking of singing and acting, you are currently doing a stint in Rent, wowing audiences; tell us about your character and what Rent is actually about for those who have never heard of it…
Ha ha,
I am having the best time doing the show. Rent is a musical based on La Boheme, an opera. It was written by Jonathan Larson and the legacy behind the show is quite sad. Rent was going to be Larson’s masterpiece, his greatest writing so far. Whilst work-shopping the show it received great acclaim but sadly, the night of the opening Jonathan passed away due to a rare genetic disorder.
The story is about a group of friends living in
My character is called Tom Collins and he is a gay university lecturer who has been kicked out of teaching for not playing by the rules. He’s a revolutionary at heart. When he arrives back at
And when can we see you in it until and where…
Rent is playing at The Duke Of York Theatre in Covent Garden
They are booking tickets till April at the moment.
Finally Mr lovely Lopez, what you got planned for the future, any more surprises?
Now that would be telling...
Mr Leon Lopez, singer, actor, presenter, hunk and role model (and a really top bloke), thank you for taking some time to talk to GTEN and for giving us an interview, we know how busy you are. Catch