No.1 for Interviews - Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain

From moody teenager to bad boy heartthrob in Hollyoaks and then nimble skater in Dancing on Ice, Chris has packed a lot into his six years in showbiz. Here he fills No.1 in on life as a star

Joining the cast of one of the UK’s biggest soaps, Hollyoaks, at age 15 must have been a daunting experience for actor Chris Fountain. But he seemed to take to the work and the lifestyle like a duck to water. Growing up before our very eyes, Chris became somewhat of a lust object, though mostly preferred by teens. However his charisma and looks made him a tantalising prospect for reality TV bosses and he was signed up to appear in Just the Two of Us and Dancing on Ice. It was the latter that firmly placed Chris on the sex symbol radar of women of all ages. And now, at 21, Chris is leaving behind the soap that launched his career in a blaze of glory. We caught the blonde heartthrob for a quick chat about his future plans, what he’ll miss the most about working on a soap and just how much attention he’s been getting from the ladies since he donned his lycra and skates.

You’ve been in Hollyoaks since you were 15 years old – how was it growing up on screen?
It was good for me growing up on screen, mainly because while I was on set, I was always learning. It was strange at first when I started getting recognised in the street but that’s something I learned to cope with over time.

Do you watch the show or is it difficult seeing yourself on screen?
I watch the show as much as I can, making a special effort to watch the episodes that I especially remember as being really good for my character, however I am very critical of myself when I watch the show.

Do you get on with the rest of the cast?
Yeah I get on really well with the cast, Hollyoaks is quite a young cast anyway so we all get on really well and have a laugh with each other.

Who will you miss the most?
I think I’ll miss everyone to be honest, and not just the cast! Obviously I’ve been at Hollyoaks a very long time so I have a lot of friends on the crew as well so it will be weird not seeing them every day!

What prompted your decision to leave the show this year?
There wasn’t one thing in particular that made me want to leave. Justin is a fantastic character but I felt that given the amazing storyline in which I leave it was the right time for Justin to go. Great characters deserve great exits and I think that’s what happens. The exit really pays tribute to everything that has happened to Justin over the years. I also have a lot of ambitions that I want to pursue, so I felt that now, at 21, it would be a good time for me to move on.

Was it really hard making the decision to leave your job – especially given the current financial climate?
As an actor, especially in a soap, it’s a difficult step to take because you are in constant work, it’s good money, a good lifestyle – so yeah it was a difficult decision to make. There is always that doubt that you might never get another job again but I’m only 21, I’d like to do other things, maybe try films.

What was your favourite storyline as Justin?
Wow! What a question, there have been so many brilliant storylines with Justin it would be hard to pick out just one! I don’t know really, there was the whole Becca storyline, which was great and we won 'Best Storyline’ for that. But then again there have been so many others, with stunts and explosions and all kinds of emotions! I guess what I’m saying is that I can’t pick...

As an actor, what moments did you relish getting the chance to sink your teeth into?
There are so many! The stuff with Warren was great as I love working with Jamie [Lomas]. He’s a great actor and I’m sure he’ll go on to do great stuff. When you work with good people like that you really do kind of feed off each other. Jamie’s got a lot to offer me in terms of experience but I’m sure I’ve got lots to offer Jamie too. You’re always learning in this show.

You achieved heartthrob status as Justin and then even more so after Dancing on Ice – did you find the ladies were flocking to you?
Erm, yeah I suppose a little bit, but not massively. I’m a little bit shy so if women ever do flock to me I just smile politely and say hi! However it is very flattering.

Are there any other actors you look up to?
Yeah of course! Actors like Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and of course the legends like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro!

Are there any areas that you would like to move into other than acting?
Well I’m quite a keen DJ and I play all over the place from Manchester to Marbella. I suppose if my acting doesn’t ever take off, I could be a professional DJ!

What’s next for you?
A holiday! I’m thinking of going on a cruise, it’s really hard to book holidays whilst working on a soap so it will be nice to get away for a few weeks! After that I’m going to sit down with my agent and figure out where my career is going to take me.

For more exclusive Hollyoaks pictures, videos and interviews, visit the official Hollyoaks website www.channel4.com/hollyoaks.

 

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