The thrill of the theatre brings Ugly Betty star back to London

 
p19 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27:
David Benett
28 September 2012

Ashley Jensen was a huge hit in the US after starring in hit comedies Ugly Betty and Accidentally On Purpose and could have had her pick of roles in Hollywood.

But Jensen has been drawn back to Britain by the old-fashioned thrill of West End theatre, for a four-month run in Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy A Chorus Of Disapproval.

The play had its opening night at the Harold Pinter Theatre last night, where she stars alongside comedian Rob Brydon, who is making his West End debut, and former EastEnder Nigel Harman.

Jensen, 43, who has spent the last six years in Los Angeles, said: “I’ve not done theatre for 11 years so it’s very exciting for me to be doing something archetypally British.

“What an old-fashioned medium this is. In a world of iPads and emails, nothing has really changed in the theatre. You still get in an hour early, do your wardrobe, put an old pair of tights under your wig and you have ‘This is your call Miss Jensen’. I got exhilarated by that.

“I missed Britain. I’m from here and I never aspired to go to LA — it sort of happened by default. I loved being there. I found it a little bit difficult at first but I found my way. I’ve got a wee boy now and we thought we’d come back and let him see a British winter.”

Brydon admitted he had left it late to make his West End debut at 47. He said: “I’ve really been enjoying it, especially being in the same place every night. It’s very rewarding.” He said the play, which runs until January and is directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, had whetted his appetite for more theatre: “I’d love to do an all-male version of Sister Act.”

Harman, despite being the youngest of the trio at 39, has the most experience in the West End and revealed he had been passing on pearls of wisdom to Brydon.

He said: “He’s a natural actor. He’s an incredible funny man. He calls me ‘The Old Father Of The Theatre’ because I’ve done a lot of stage, so he comes up to me and asks me about this and that.”

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