Sam Bailey, the crooner for The X Factor, details how Adolescence star Stephen Graham has helped him realize his dream and the real reason she auditioned for the show.
Former prison officer Sam Bailey, 48, shot to fame after winning The X Factor in 2013 and since then, she’s not only forged a singing career, but has also become a force to be reckoned with in musical theatre, with roles in everything from Chicago to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. But as new catches up with her after one of her powerhouse performances at the Paul Stank Charitable Trust Summer Ball, it’s clear that fame hasn’t gone to her head.
The Leicester-based mum-of-three, who has been married to husband Craig Pearson for 22 years, is warm and down-to-earth as she stops to pose for selfies with fans. Here, Sam opens up to OK! about her son Tommy’s health challenges, hanging out with Rebekah Vardy, her career goals and why she’ll always be grateful to Adolescence star Stephen Graham…
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Sam, how are you?
I’m good, too. My 24th cruise to date, which I just finished off on a Seaborn cruise! Miley, my 10-year-old daughter, was the only passenger on board, so she was spoilt for life! And with the kids, we’ll soon be taking a trip to Disney, Florida.
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Your son Tommy, who is autistic, was given the epilepsy diagnosis in May of last year. That must have been enthralling.
It’s been a mad time. We have to normalise it now – and educate people on what to do in certain situations. WhereverI am in the world, I have two alarms set to UK time – one at 7am and one at 7pm, so I can call Tommy and check that he’s taken his meds. If he doesn’t, six or seven hours later he could have a massive seizure.
How are the children doing?
Brooke is at uni, she’s going into musical theatre, and Tommy’s just finished his GCSEs. But he had a seizure three days before his maths GCSE as it can cause brain fog and we had to get an exemption for him, so that’s been difficult. You have to fight for everything – but I’m a mum and that’s what you do.
Does your husband Craig miss you when you’re away? You travel a lot.
Funny how he says, “When are you off again? ” when I return home. because I just arrived home and created a total mess! There is washing all over as I unpack suitcases… I might have a day to sort everything before going home.
Do you want to pursue any other career-related endeavors?
I’d love to go into TV acting and films. I did a musical earlier this year, Now That’s What I Call A Musical, with the brilliant Nina Wadia and I think I have acting chops, so I’ve got to get myself an acting agent. A comedy role would be great. Or EastEnders. I auditioned for Corrie years ago, not long after The X Factor, I was terrible. But now I’ve done seven musicals and I think I’m pretty good. I just want to get my teeth stuck into something new.
You don’t rest on your laurels, you know…
Ha, no. I believe that my happiness increases as my workload increases. I only visited The X Factor to purchase a new kitchen. I didn’t pursue fame or clout. I continued to want more. However, I’ve gotten comfortable with that platform now that I have one. Some of the people who have performed in such shows have a problem because they sing, not because of that.
How do you feel about the criticism that The X Factor has received?
Never bite the hand that feeds you, because I’ve traveled all over the world and started working on The X Factor. Only positive things happened in my experiences. Simon and I haven’t spoken in a while, but occasionally we bump into each other at odd times.
You duetted with Nicole Scherzinger on the final of The X Factor – are you still in touch with her?
I speak to her other half, Thom Evans, actually. I know Thom of old. I used to do a lot of events that he would go to, being a rugby player. So when I saw him on The X Factor: Celebrity, I was rooting for him – he’s such a ball of fun and gorgeous to look at. I was praying he and Nicole would get together.
Rebekah and Jamie Vardy, are you still friends?
Yes, I went to their kids’ birthday parties! But my kids know their kids, they grew up together and they’re such gorgeous children. I remember we went to this soft play centre in Leicester once when the kids were little – we went in and Jamie and Bex and the kids were there. Then in walked Stephen Graham, [his wife] Hannah and their two children! People in there were like, ‘Whaaat…?!’
Know Stephen Graham well?
Yes, and let me tell you that my son is interested in acting. And he’s such a nice guy. Tommy and I went to see Venom, and my husband said, “Ah, Stephen Graham’s in this, I didn’t realize – me and your mother know him.” What did my son say to me? Do you know Stephen Graham? I’d like to work in acting.
I messaged Stephen and said, “My boy wants to act because of you.” And this child never leaves his room. I played it to Tom after Stephen gave him a four-minute voice note with lots of advice. Then he had to write a monologue, audition for a college, and utterly slammed it. He was accepted, and he will enroll in acting school in September. That’s quite a feat for an autistic child who has epilepsy.
Are you concerned about your children entering the show business?
As long as they are content, no. I’ve never said to my kids, “I don’t care what you do as long as you get stamps on your passport,” other than that. I am aware of the number of people who remain in their own country. There is such a large world out there. Explore it if you can.
Source: Mirror
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