“Kian Loves Me being a 'Prostitute’” - October 2006

© Thanx Jen for typing this up J

"Jodi Albert talks about playing a hooker in new comedy Respectable - and why she's waiting two years to get married

Actress Jodi Albert feared her Westlife singer boyfriend Kian Egan might be shocked t her role as a prostitute in a new TV sitcom - but he loves it! The former Hollyoaks actress, 23, is starring in hit Channel Five show Respectable, which is based in a suburban brothel.

She says: 'I was nervous at the screening, but Kian laughed from start to finish - he's my fiercest critic so when he liked it I knew it was good. He didn't mind me playing a prostitute because it's a comedy.'

Stunning Jodi, who plays tart-with-a-heart Hayley, wars stockings, suspenders and basques in the show, which follows the lives of the girls who work there.

The show drew criticism from women's rights campaigners before it went on air, for treating prostitution as comedy.

But Jodi says: 'The complaint happened before anyone had even seen it. Many people think it might be controversial, but then they watch it and find it funny and light-hearted. A lot of comedy is based on slightly dark themes, like Little Britain for example, which as some pretty extreme characters.'

And thankfully for Jodi, her parents agree with her. 'My family have been very supportive,' she says. 'After seeing Respectable they were quoting lines from the show. My mum loved it - she couldn't stop laughing.'

Of course Jodi's real love life is much more straightforward than that of her character. She is madly in love with Kian, 26, whom she's planning to marry in two years.

She adds: 'Our relationship is going really well, Westlife are about to release a new album, so Kian has been very busy. There are no wedding plans yet - people are so desperate to marry us off! We will get married but not for a couple of years. I want to be able to plan a nice wedding.'

The daredevil pair are so inseparable, they've even done a parachute jump together. 'It was Kian's idea to do it,' admits Jodi. 'I only joined him at the last minute. It was amazing, like flying - it was like nothing else I've ever done. When we both landed we just hugged each other.'

Jodi will return to Hollyoaks next month for a couple of guest appearances as her character, Debbie Dean.

She adds: 'It will be nice to be back but I don't plan to rejoin full time."

(Rebecca Smith, Reveal issue 38)

 

Credit/Source: Reveal Magazine / Jen