No.1 for Interviews - Martine McCutcheon

Martine McCutcheon

“Romance is the last little bit of magic we have got”

The former EastEnder and star of Love Actually talks about her first foray into writing and that, unlike other celebrities, she really did write her novel, The Mistress, by herself...

For many of us, Martine McCutcheon is Tiffany, the put-upon EastEnder, who met her maker under the wheels of a taxi in Albert Square in what was one of the most watched episodes of the soap ever.

Quickly making her way along the much-worn path of soap star turned pop star, Martine released the saccharine This Is My Moment, which soon become a popular choice for first dances at weddings across the country.

However it only takes a quick chat with Martine to realise that the song may be sickly sweet but the sentiment is sincere. Like her character in the smash hit romcom Love Actually, Martine is a strong believer in romance and writes about the subject in her first novel, The Mistress, which is out now.

How did this book come about?
It all came about when I was asked by the head of a TV network to come up with an idea for a TV show. It could have been anything from a chat show to a drama or comedy but they wanted to create a vehicle for myself and other talent to be in.
So I came up with the concept of The Mistress. While I was coming up with the idea, I actually thought that it could be a book. By then the publishers had heard about it and called me in to have a chat with them.

So you wrote the book yourself?
The publishers asked me that and I said, “Yeah can you tell? Is it bad or is it good?” And they were like, “No, it’s really good but we just wanted to check because there will be a real hooha about the fact that you’ve written it yourself.” It’s really odd that when you’ve written a book, people don’t believe that you have written it yourself anymore.

What do you think of the trend that is happening at the moment, for celebrities to use ghostwriters?
I don’t put myself in that category because I have written it. I’ve written songs and worked with writers on script ideas so there is a link there – the book didn’t just come out of nowhere. I’ve worked really hard and I’ve always been very creative so I feel really proud.

Are you pleased with the book?
I’m thrilled. It’s a story that I have always wanted to tell because a couple of my girlfriends have been the other woman and I’ve seen the heartache that goes with it and the sacrifices that are involved and how it affects so many people – not just the two people that are in love. There are so many things that you can control in life but you can’t control who you fall in love with. It’s one of the few things in this day and age that still raises an eyebrow. There is so much that people don’t even blink at anymore but people seem to have their curiosity brought to the forefront when it comes to being the mistress.

You are currently loved-up with songwriter Jack McManus. Has that made you happy?
I think that until I met Jack, I did truly love people, but my number one priority was always work and my career. I knew that I was still lucky to be in the business after five years, let alone 10 years. Other relationships make you realise what true love is I think, and I think that I have found a really lovely relationship.

Do you think Jack might be ‘the one’?
I thought I had found ‘the one’ before and I was wrong so now I don’t think about finding ‘the one’, I think about just being happy and being in the moment. I really do believe that you can have the ‘one for now’. I think there was somebody for me at certain times in my life and nobody else would have done, I really think that. There is a certain energy that brings people together at certain times but that doesn’t mean that it’s forever. With Jack, this is the first time that I have gone, ‘Oh I don’t know what this is, but I really like it.’

You have done acting, singing and now writing. Where does your heart lie?
My passion is being creative. I sometimes feel like I should have been around in the MGM days when actors could sing, dance and be creative. Anything that tells a story from a love song, or a play or a movie or book: those are the things that make me tick. I think more than ever at the moment, we all deserve a pat on the back because life is really difficult and it’s tough – especially at the moment with the financial climate – and I just think that it’s nice to have anything that’s a bit of escapism.
I think it’s easy for romance to be demeaned or patronised but it’s good for the soul. For adults, romance is the last little bit of magic we have got left and we should be able to enjoy it unashamedly really.

Love Actually is a good example of that…
I’ll never forget when I was at a press junket with Richard Curtis and there was a journalist there who was being really cynical about the movie and trying to sugar coat it and demean it. Richard just said, “Listen, we are so ready to think that misery is so credible and yet we don’t give that credibility to the most important thing in the world which is love and to be loved and be happy. Love shouldn’t be underestimated.”

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