From the cobbles of Coronation Street to an open-air stage at Stafford Castle — soap star Bruno Langley recently played Romeo in the Stafford Festival Shakespeare Open Production of Romeo and Juliet. The actor had a chat with Nermin Oomer on his visit to Staffordshire

Bruno Langley freely admits leaving Britain's best-loved soap for unknown pastures is a brave step.

The 22-year-old actor played homosexual teenager Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street for more than three years.

He decided to leave the soap last year for 'lots of different reasons'.

He says: "If you're not happy somewhere you have to leave. When you leave a big show, you get worried about what else there is. People get scared but you have to take risks."

Bruno likens working on Coronation Street to a factory with a team of 'really brilliant writers all contributing' to the final product.

"You can sometimes have a say as an actor because you get to know the character. A new writer may give you a line the character just wouldn't say and you can point it out but any changes have to be agreed by so many people."

I meet Bruno as he takes a break from rehearsing his role as Romeo at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre. His Juliet is ex-EastEnder Scarlett Johnson

Bruno's home town is Buxton, just across the county border in Derbyshire, but he moved to Manchester when commuting to and from work became an expensive business.

"I was spending £80 a day on taxis because public transport was unreliable and you couldn't be late."

His parents are Australian and Bruno finally managed to visit their native country earlier this year.

Bruno is well-travelled and scathing of people who have not ventured out of their own little patch of the world.

His father makes flute-like instruments called Ocarinas and the actor used to travel around the country helping to sell the devices.

The salesman emerges: "They're great for children," he says.

Dad would be proud.

Bruno claims he wasn't very academic and just 'had fun' at school — but is enjoying the challenge of performing a lead part in Shakespeare's best-known work.

"Shakespeare is so clever. The words can have several different meanings.

"It's crazy but you have a lot of leeway. It's sometimes better to have a lot of lines to learn because if you only have a couple and don't do them well, everyone says 'how did you mess that up?"

Have any personal life experiences helped him in his role as lovelorn Romeo?

"If you haven't experienced something, you think back to the closest thing you have been through. I had crushes when I was 14 and 15 so 1 know how he feels."

The actor got through his gay-storyline in Coronation Street in much the same way.

Todd Grimshaw was The Street's first homosexual character and Bruno had the dubious honour of taking part in the show's first ever gay kiss.

"Being in this industry I've got gay friends. The storyline was a bit awkward at first but I got through it."

And will we ever see him supping a pint in the Rovers again?

A firm 'No' at first, but then a hesitation: "I don't know. If I did go back to a soap it would be Corrie."

However, if Bruno's wishes are fulfilled he'll have left The Street far behind, as the bright lights of Hollywood beckon.

"The reason I became an actor was to be in films but they're not interested before you're 30."

Evidence suggests he may already be on his way to the big screen.

Type Bruno's name into an Internet search engine and he's compared to top Hollywood actor Jude Law. A flattering comparison?

"Too flattering," he says — but is unable to mask his delight at the comparison.

The actor plays the piano and enjoys song-writing when he's feeling inspired.

"I'm a creative person. When I was younger I was always writing poetry and stuff. I was way too wet for my own good."

Having a way with words, did be ever fancy journalism? "No way."

He's sticking to acting — Corrie fans can breathe easy.

© Our Time Magazine, 16/8/05

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