When Alexandra Burke was approached about playing the pivotal role of Morticia in the musical comedy The Addams Family her first reaction was ‘why me?’.
“I was was confused as to why they wanted me,” said Alexandra. “I’m such a hyper person, I do everything at 1,000 miles an hour yet Morticia is so calm and relaxed. She’s the total opposite to be but actually it’s worked perfectly.
“I really didn’t know what to expect but it’s actually so much more fun than I could ever have imagined.”
“I did wonder how is the Addams Family was going to be musical that’s funny and captivating?” said Alexandra. “But wow, they’ve really hit the nail on the head, it’s just been wonderful to be part of it all.
“And now, Morticia is honestly one of the favourite roles I’ve ever done.”
From her breakthrough moment winning X Factor in 2008, Alexandra has gone on to be a number one recording artist, a West End leading lady in shows including The Bodyguard, Sister Act and Chicago and more recently she has branched out into acting in film and TV.
“So I sat down with the director Matt White to see how he saw Morticia then read the script and then told him the bits I was going to put my spin on.
“It grew in the rehearsal room but at first I was struggling to find my confidence.
“But everyone was so reassuring and then when I put the make-up on, put the dress on something changed; something shifted within me and I started to feel like Morticia. It was amazing.”
The cool, collected Morticia is a mesmerising presence on stage.
“What I like about her is that she doesn’t blow her lid,” said Alexandra. “She doesn’t shout or do anything over the top. She’s very much the head of the family and everyone respects her and yet she’s so grounded.
“I think that’s what I’ve learned from her - remain grounded because you get better results.”
Morticia is also something of a sex symbol.
“Sexy? That’s not me darling,” laughed Alexandra. “When I told my partner - professional footballer Darren Randolph - he said ‘ooh Morticia, she’s sexy’ and I was like ‘what’s this you haven’t been telling me?’
“But I’ll just embrace what she is and just try to do my thing.”
One of the most popular scenes in the show is the tango between Morticia and husband Gomez, played by Ricardo Afonso.
As runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 with professional partner Gorka Marquez that surely didn’t present many problems.
“The tango has come on such a long way since we started rehearsals,” she said. “I was injured when we began rehearsals and I seriously thought we might have to cut the tango but I needn’t have worried.
“Ricardo is a joy to dance with.”
She also revealed that a Strictly star had helped prepare the couple’s tango.
“Nadia Bychkova is basically my sister,” she said. “She’s godparent to one of my children and she’s the one I leaned on to execute this tango; she’s been wonderful.
“She came to rehearsals and loved what we’d done. She just said ‘keep thinking sexy thoughts and you’ll achieve it’. That’s getting the go-ahead from the queen of tango herself.”
The Addams Family also stars Lesley Joseph who plays grandma and with whom Alexandra worked in Sister Act.
“Lesley’s my friend and it’s just wonderful to be around her every day,” said Alexandra. “But the whole cast are so talented and it’s such fun being with them in the show.”
With two young children, Alexandra admits that touring with a show around the UK can be difficult.
“That can be challenging,” she said. “but I Facetime them every night before they go to bed. I recently called them in full Morticia make-up and my eldest said ‘mummy, what have you done to your face?’ Kids will always keep you grounded, they have no filters and just say it as they see it.”
Given her many successes, does Alexandra ever stop and reflect on everything she has achieved?
“I’m usually looking ahead to what’s next,” she said, “looking to tick off things from the list.
“Recently I was told I need to start recognising what I have done. I’m so grateful for roles been given and for the support I’ve had in the theatre industry. I’m not a trained actress; I go with my gut and with what’s in front of me and every role done I’ve loved every single moment. I’m very lucky.
“I just want to make my kids proud. Having children has given me a real purpose in life and I know I can do so much more.”
The Addams Family is at The Lowry, Salford Quays, until Saturday (www.thelowry.com) and Blackpool Opera House from August 26 to 30 (wwww.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk)
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