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Summer Strallen

As Hollyoaks character Summer Shaw wins her role in The Sound Of Music it has been revealed that the actress who plays her, Summer Strallen, is to portray Maria in real life in West End musical.

We caught up with Summer to chat about her new role and ask how she's managed to keep it all secret.

You've only been on the show for three months and already you are leaving, tell us a little bit about what you are going on to do?

"I am joining the cast of The Sound Of Music as Maria. I'm taking over from Connie Fisher (who won the part by appearing on TB show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria), so it's all very exciting."

When you joined the show did you know Hollyoaks had a cross-over planned between the real Summer and Summer Shaw?

"I did, yes. I went for an audition for The Sound Of Music thinking I was going for the part of the alternate role. I had two auditions and then my agent took me to The Ivy for a drink on a Sunday and said: "The situation is, you are going up to Liverpool in two weeks time to play the part of Summer in Hollyoaks where you will be involved in a storyline with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Then you will go on to play Maria in The Sound Of Music.

"It was a lot of information to take in at one time but I was so excited because I wanted to get into doing more TV. It's just been a fantastic opportunity and to bring both roles together was perfect."

So all of this happened after just two auditions?

"Yes, but I had been in Hollyoaks In The City the year before so they knew my face and who I was."

The secret was kept for quite a while. How did you managed with that?

"It was so hard! In the West End a rumour gets around in a minute because it is such a close circle of people. In the beginning I had to sign a confidentiality agreement and the only people who knew for about two months were my boyfriend and my best friend.

"My family didn't know and my mother only found out in November. My older sister Scarlet asked me in October because she has been playing Mary in Mary Poppins and she'd obviously heard some rumours. She was asking how long I would be in Hollyoaks and I couldn't lie to her, so I just told her what I knew because really I didn't know the full details."

What did your family say when they found out?

"Well, you have to understand that my family are all in show business and have been for a very long time. When they asked me if I had the role on The Sound Of Music I told them I didn't get it because I was too exotic, since usually I play 'dancey', showbiz roles, and they believed that.

"My mother did suspect something, but when anyone asked her she just said I'd told her I hadn't got it. She didn’t know any differently. They are all incredibly proud, but it's different to most families because they are in the same business and it is just a job."

So did you tell them that although you didn't get the role in The Sound Of Music you had a part in Hollyoaks?

"I told them my agent had been in touch with Hollyoaks to ask - as the show I'd been in was coming to an end – if there anything free on the series. I told them that's how I got the part."

What are you most looking forward to doing The Sound Of Music?

"I don't know, I suppose singing on a mountain. It's the role to play, and she’s a fantastic character and has great morals. It's just such a famous book, film and show. It was overwhelming at the beginning, but at the end of the day it's a job.

"I love doing musicals although I don't want to rule out film and TV, and if they start making musical films that would be great - all my Christmases come at once!

Hollyoaks, runs weekdays on Channel4 from 6.30pm, www.E4.com/hollyoke

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