2002 Entries
December 2002
Well the build up to Christmas is definately on it's way. I really do think this is my favourite time of year, when it get's cold and dark outside and you can snuggle up in front of a fire and count down the days.
In fact this is going to be the first Christmas in four years where I'll actually be at home for it all. Basically I told my agent how I wanted if off, which didn't go down too well, as I haven't had a holiday or break now in about 4 1/2 years and I was forgetting what my family and friends looked like!
Of course this means that next year is already looking completely manic, starting with me flying back out to L.A at the beginning of January to start work on one of those projects, and then basically working non-stop from then on out.
Although that's great , as I love the work more than anything, the one downside was that it meant I couldn't do Rent again over this period. The producers rang and asked me if I would consider it and although it was really tempting, unfortunately by that time I had already committed to these other projects and couldn't really go back on my word.
In all honesty it may be a good thing for as much as I love the cast and the show, these opportunities were so exciting I think my agent would have killed me if I passed them up! I've spoken to all the cast and they were really cool about it, understanding and all that, but they made me promise to go see them as soon as I can and to be honest wild horses couldn't keep me away!
Most of my time at the moment is taken up with pre-production meetings for the other projects, although I am also working on the Production Company I set up with my brother. We intend to make our short film (for the festivals) in Spring or so next year and then follow it up with our feature film when and as I get a break long enough! (Probably around 2010 then!)
Well that's about all the gossip and news for now. As always thank you very much for all your e-mails and letters, I don't think you can understand how much they mean to me.
Well in case I don't speak to you before, have a fantastic Christmas and may mince pies be wherever you seek them!!
November 2002
It's been such a nice homecoming to get to see all your messages and it really made me miss having the chance to keep in touch while I've been away, so a huge thank you for them!
Well L.A. was great, and six weeks of really hard work but very rewarding, which will hopefully bear fruit for you to see in the near future.
As I went out at that mid-season point, when nothing was actually being filmed, most of my time was taken up having various meetings with Producers and Directors, about future projects that they would like me to be involved in.
Some of these are Film projects, one of which I'm really excited about, which should start filming earlyish next year and some television for both here and the U.S. I've got to go back out for this in January to have some more meetings
It's really weird going across there and meeting people who you've admired and watched since you were a child but it's really exciting to see projects at such an early stage and be involved in giving input on your character from the get-go. As usual I've got to be a bit secretive as yet, as production for the projects is still ongoing but fear not, when possible you will be the first to know.
The best thing about being home is definitely having a chance to hang out with my friends and family at home, and I've spent most of the last four days running around catching up with everyone. In all honesty not much really has been happening but it's just nice to see the faces of those you love!!
September 2002
Well summer's here at last, just as it's meant to be ending. God bless the British weather!!
The whole Corrie story has now played out on screen, so I hope you liked it. I must admit it was really good fun and the response has been positive which is nice. So a big thank you for all your support.
As I write this I'm actually getting ready to head back to LA at the beginning of September. Darren (my manager out there) needs me to come out to do some more work/filming and to have some meetings regarding other secret projects.
I must say I'm particularly gutted to be chasing the sun!! Actually if it's anything like last time, I'll probably come back paler than before I went, as I spent the whole time having meetings and in studios!
In all honesty there's not much I can really tell you about at the mo as I've still got to keep quiet about it all (blah blah boring I know!!).
I must just take a chance though to say congratulations to all of you who took exams and got your results. Hope you all got what you were looking for and those who didn't, don't worry, things always happen for a reason. Know it sounds corny and what my parents always used to say to me, but one thing I've learnt in life is that it's true and you should never look back!
August 2002
Well I'm writing this on the train on my way down to London for some meetings, so if you can read this then God Bless Helen for being able to decipher my rather horrendous writing!
If you are in the UK I guess you may have had a chance to watch some of the Corrie Stuff by now so I hope you are liking it. As I scribble this down, tomorrow is actually my last day's filming, which is kind of sad. But I've got to say I've had an amazing time doing this short stint.
It's been great to hook up with everyone from the Street and work alongside them and one of the best bits has been in trying to develop the story line as much as possible.
We all wanted to try and make the scenes as sexy and grown-up as possible, so as to show both Nick and Maria in a more adult light and I hope we succeeded, I guess you'll all let me know.
I do know they had a bit of trouble with the censorship and watershed, so it could be interesting to see the final product.
Although it was great fun filming Corrie, I don't really plan to return full time at this moment, despite requests and rumours, as I'm kinda committed to some other projects at this time (those secret ones I still can't let you in on!!) but one thing I've learnt from this business is "never say never" so who knows for the future.
It's good to be home for the moment though as it means I can check out the Commonwealth Games, right on my parents doorstep. I think it's a great advert for Manchester but also I hope it will encourage future sporting events to be allocated to this country too. Best of luck to all the Brits competing.
July 2002
I am writing this on like the one day off I've had since I started back on the "street", and I've got to say things have been going really well.
It's fantastic going back for this short storyline and having a chance to work again with some really good friends and basically have a laugh every day.
Not much has really changed since I left on '98, except there's loads of new cast, so it's been cool meeting them, and all of us seem to be doing less and less work and more and more messing around.
Storyline wise I can hint that there's going to be some fairly steamy scenes between Nick and Maria as the two fall for each other very quickly. It was weird meeting Samia (who play Maria) and then suddenly that day we are doing scenes where we are making out and such like.But who says work can't be fun!!
I have been approached and asked "off the record" loads whether I would consider going back full time and although I really love working there I can't really do it , because of commitments to other projects (you know the secret ones I keep going on about.) The result of that is that there is going to be this really sexy explosive storyline (starting July 22nd) in which Nick and Maria fall in love and deal with the issues that come from that. I hope you like them!!
Apart from all that life has been ticking over as usual, having meetings about future projects and also for the first time in ages, having a chance to chill out with my family, as I'm staying at my parents' house while I film Corrie
I've got to say well done to England for the World Cup. Considering a year ago we weren't even expected to qualify, I thought they did really well and although it was disappointing to go out, they showed such spirit and heart. I think we should be really proud of them.
June 2002
Well I'm happy to be able to finally confirm that I will be rejoining Coronation Street for a short storyline this summer.
Although I can't tell you what it's about, I can say that it will involve four weeks of filming from the end of June to the end of July, which will be transmitted a few weeks after that.
Keep tuned to the site to find out the exact transmission date of the first episode. It's going to be really fun to go back and work with some great people who became really good friends, and also do some development of the character Nicky.
I've also just got back from Cannes which I have to say was an absolute blast. The response to the film itself was phenominal and everyone we spoke to was very encouraging and flattering.
It was bizarre to be there at this really showbiz extravaganza and to be witness to some incredible work by very talented people. It kind of inspired my brother Mark and I to start up a production company ourselves, an idea we've been developing for some time and with which we are now developing a short film, with a long term view to producing feature films we have written and commissioned.
I definitely am going to be in this business as an actor for the rest of my life, although at the same time I would like to do some work from behind the camera and this has always been an avenue I've wanted to pursue. I will keep you updated with all developments on this venture.
On top of all that I've still got other projects flooding in, both stage and screen, and I will keep you updated of all choices I make. In truth I'm having a really good time at the moment being able to challenge myself with some really fantastic opportunities, and as ever I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support, as without that, none of this would be possible.
May 2002
I am writing this from the comfort of my home in Cheshire; damn it's nice to be home!
Although I love working, because this business is all so hectic, it's kind of nice to get a chance for a breather and relax a bit. That's not to say though things haven't been as busy as ever.
I guess the first thing you want to know about is the Coronation Street rumour. To put it in a nutshell, I'd been approached a few times off the record by the show to come back, but was never able to because of other commitments. Then the other week, Kieron Roberts, the producer, asked whether I'd be able to do a short stint this summer in a new storyline.
Now because of other stuff going on (like a possible play at the Edinburgh Festival and a film in Canada) there's a whole lot of juggling of dates going on as I write this. But if all these little problems can be worked out, then yes Nicky will be re-appearing for a bit this summer.
Keep logged in to find out the definite answer and dates.
I am also justing trying to get myself all sorted for next week when I'm off to the Cannes Film Festival for the screening of "Emergency Exit" at the Kodak showcase. There's been loads of interest in the film, so it's going to be fun to go across and do the whole press launch thing.
On top of all that I'm also doing loads of trekking up and down the motorway to London, having meetings regarding some of those secret projects I can't tell you about as yet.
Actually saying that I've got to go sort out another one for tomorrow, so sorry it's only a short journal. But as they say "idle hands are the devil's plaything!!" (or something like that!).
April 2002
Well here I am back from the States and as ever things are really hectic. L.A. was a fantastic experience both as a holiday but more surprisingly from a professional point of view.
I hooked up with Darren my manager and had some really fantastic meetings, setting up prospective movie projects, which as they are all in pre-production, it's the usual secret thing. But I'm going to be doing a lot more to-ing and fro-ing over the next few months.
It was kind of bizarre to walk into these huge studios and have meetings with people, while in the next room you've got some A-list, Oscar winning actors and actresses! Very bizarre but very cool!
Not to worry though. I'm not disappearing over there for good. I got back a week ago but even while I was out there my agent has been setting up some stuff for here too, both TV and theatre. (Rent kind of got me hooked to that live performing so I definitely want to do more.)
Although I can't divulge anything just yet, it won't be long before I can, so stay logged on to hear first.
Question- Biggest problem with being out there for two months? Answer - I missed out on Man City's march to the top! Football is a bit of an unknown quantity in America, so I had to rely on my Dad for weekly updates. I just want to take this chance to congratulate Kevin and the boys in blue on a fantastic job!
It's really nice to be home for a bit as with the pop music, Rent and then America it's been almost 2 years since I spent any significant time with my family and friends from home, so I've got some serious catching up to do.
I'm also keeping in contact with everyone from Rent (actually I'm off to meet some of them when I've finished writing this) and although we are all working on different projects I know we'll always stay in close contact.
Another piece of good new, "Emergency Exit" has won the best short film category for it's territory at the Cannes Film Festival in May, so I get to go swanning off to the south of France and do all the publicity thing for it, which really means I've got an excuse to go party in the sun for a bit!
Well I think that's about all the news for now, so as ever thanks for all your support and keep in touch so I can tell you what else is coming up.
February 2002
Well here it is, the end of the run of Rent. I am writing this in my dressing room on Saturday the 26th just before I go onstage for the last ever performance. Wow! What a bag of emotions I am.
I've felt so honoured over the last year and a bit to be a part of something so truly unique and special. Not only in the show itself, an amazing piece and endless honour to perform, but also in being given the opportunity to be a member of such an incredible cast.
They have all become such a part of my life, that the prospect of losing them from my every day life feels like I'm preparing to lose a limb! Of course we are all going to keep in contact, as we all feel so close, but with each of us going off to do our different projects, it really does feel like a very special chapter of my life is coming to a close.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the memory of Jonathan Larson, and his family, for the creation of such an incredible show.
Also the cast for allowing me to go on the amazing journey this last year has given me, I will never forget a single one of you.
Finally I would like to thank all of you for coming to see Rent. Without your support the show would have passed away, but now because of your kindness in coming and supporting us, I am happy to say it was this week confirmed that this production has been the most successful production of Rent in all the world outside North America.
To the future then, I'm off to Los Angeles this coming Wednesday, slightly nervous about the whole thing, but to be honest I'm treating it kind of like a busman's holiday!!
January 2002
Hope you all had a great Christmas and got all the things you wanted. Miraculously I actually managed to get home for Christmas eve and day and spent a really nice two days with my family, just doing all the usual stuff of eating too much and giving out pressies.
I'm writing this now in my dressing room on New Years Eve (yes some of us are made to work today which isn't very pleasing!) and I've got to say what a great year I've been lucky enough to have. Touring with Rent and performing to a different city each week was just a mind blowing experience and something we all as a company found amazingly rewarding.
Then to top it all off, here we are now in London's West End, playing to a virtually sold out venue each night and getting a great reception. I know I've said it loads of times before but this show really has proven to be something special. I'd like to say a huge thank you to you all for your support in coming to watch the show.
Now that there's only a few weeks left we're all getting a bit nostalgic and trying to give everything we can to each other and the show every night so as to make sure we end on a massive high.
I guess the next big question is what am I gonna be up to next year. I know I keep playing you along and only hinting at some of the projects I've got coming up, although please believe it's not my fault and that I'm only doing what I'm told by producers (my bosses!).
One exciting new thing I can tell you about is that I've been asked out to the States by a management company as soon as Rent finishes, not only to keep things moving on projects I've already got lined up, but also to go around and have some meetings with Movie and TV bosses who have been kind enough to ask me.
I know there's a high chance nothing will come of them because of my prior commitments, but it'll be quite exciting anyway and you never know what may come of them (and even if nothing does to be honest, I might treat it as a bit of a holiday!).
Well that's it for now, I've gotta get ready to go on stage, so I hope you all have had a happy New Year and that the next one brings you all unending happiness, success and love.
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