'I’m a grafter': Life according to Steps and musical star Faye Tozer

Musical star Faye Tozer on her love of Edinburgh, silencing the critics and 25 years of Steps.

How does it feel returning to the stage in Singin’ In The Rain?

It’s been brilliant. This is the third time I’ve done it – they keep asking me back and I keep coming back because it’s such a happy show with uplifting music, vibrant colourful costumes, and watching the tap dancing is so energising.

What can you tell us about your character, Lina Lamont?

She’s the underdog. She’s part of that time when movies turned into talkies, and she’s beautiful but doesn’t have the voice to match. But she’s a fighter and she lives in her own perfect Hollywood bubble, which is fun to play with. She has a lovely squeaky voice which I based on Karen from Will & Grace, a little bit from Family Guy and maybe a bit of Marge Simpson in places. I wanted to make her cartoony but quite realistic in places, too.

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It’s 70 years since the movie was released. Are you a fan?

I love the movie. I grew up watching films on a Sunday afternoon when there were only four channels on the telly. I was a huge fan of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Ginger Rogers so to be a part of this is wonderful.

How does the production make it rain on stage?

We have a massive pool of water under the stage and to make it flood with a couple of inches of water, the pool is pushed up for the water to come through the slats. We also have three to five rain curtains above us. As Lina, I try not to get wet, but it’s very rarely I come off the stage dry. A warning to everyone in the first two or three rows – you are in the splash zone!

Are you looking forward to coming back to Edinburgh?

I played the Festival Theatre with the show in 2014, so it’s great to be returning to the venue. I stayed in a really gorgeous Airbnb on the Grassmarket the last time – I’ll need to see if it’s still available. Edinburgh is one everyone is looking forward to – we’re all checking Tripadvisor to see what to do during the day and the best bars to go to afterwards. We’ll be out and about making the most of it.

Is theatre what you always wanted to do?

This is the path I thought I was going to go on, but I went the long way round with Steps.

Was being in Steps a help or a hindrance when moving into theatre?

It’s a double-edged sword. It’s hard crossing over from pop to theatre and there’s a lot of people with opinions. I do the audition process like everyone else and they wouldn’t give me the job if they didn’t believe in me. There are also critics who say you’re just there because you’re a name, but I get wonderful feedback from people and when the reviews come back, that’s what makes you say, ‘OK, I can do this’. People will always love you or hate you regardless if you’re any good or not.

Did you go to stage school?

My mum and dad couldn’t afford it but I did go to dancing school and did every show possible at am-dram theatre. I did A-level drama. I started working straight out of school and I’ve been working ever since. I’m a grafter.

You’ll be back in Scotland in the summer with Steps?

It’s going to be a big old summer – 25 years of Steps, which is unbelievable. We’re getting together to rehearse and build a new show and I think it’ll be fun.