Kym Marsh on Stepping Into Her ‘Villain Era’ for Single White Female

Kym Marsh is grinning as she declares, “This is my villain era,” and it’s impossible not to laugh with her. Warm, grounded and famously likeable, she hardly fits the mould of a classic stage villain. Yet her latest role — the enigmatic and unsettling Hedy in the world‑premiere stage adaptation of Single White Female — is set to challenge everything audiences think they know about her.

The production, which embarks on a six‑month UK tour across 21 venues, reimagines the iconic 1992 psychological thriller for a modern audience. At its heart is Allie, a recently divorced mother trying to rebuild her life while juggling childcare and a fledgling business. When she advertises for a lodger, Hedy appears: charming, helpful and seemingly the perfect fit. But as fans of the film will remember, appearances can be dangerously deceiving.

A Taste for the Dark Side

For Marsh, best known to millions as Coronation Street’s Michelle Connor, the shift into morally murky territory has been a welcome one.

“The last few roles I’ve taken on have been pretty villainous — and I love it,” she says. Rather than leaning into pantomime evil, she’s determined to give Hedy nuance. “I want people to be unsure right up to the end. Is she good? Is she bad? Maybe they’ll even feel sorry for her.”

It’s a challenge she relishes, especially after her acclaimed turn as Alex Forrest in the stage version of Fatal Attraction. That production sparked conversations about other psychological thrillers ripe for reinvention — and Single White Female quickly rose to the top of the list.

A Thriller for the Social Media Age

This new adaptation, written by journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Reid, brings the story firmly into the 21st century. Social media — with its curated identities, blurred boundaries and potential for deception — becomes a natural extension of the original film’s themes of obsession and imitation.

“There was no social media in the ’90s,” Marsh points out. “But now we see people copying each other’s lives online all the time. Catfishing, fake profiles — it all makes the story feel even more relevant.”

And what about the film’s most infamous moment — the stiletto scene? Marsh laughs. “The essence is still the same. The big, iconic moments are there. But you’ll have to wait and see.”

Finding Her Home on Stage

Although she continues to enjoy a thriving television career, Marsh has fallen increasingly in love with theatre. Recent productions, including Abigail’s Party, have reminded her how exhilarating live performance can be.

“On stage, you get that instant reaction,” she says. “You feel the audience with you. Every town responds differently — that’s part of the magic.”

Even now, nerves still creep in. Since losing her father last year, she finds herself whispering a quiet “Come on, Dad” in the wings before stepping out. “You just want to give people a great performance,” she says. “And sometimes you need to feel someone’s there with you.”

A Career Built on Openness

It’s been 25 years since Marsh first appeared on our screens in Popstars, winning a place in Hear’Say and beginning a career that has rarely paused for breath. Now 49, a mother of three and a grandmother, she remains one of Britain’s most recognisable and warmly regarded performers.

“I think people see me as sincere,” she reflects. “I make mistakes, I own them, and I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not. Maybe that gives me a bit of a girl‑next‑door feel.”

Family, she says, is her anchor. “They mean everything to me. I was brought up to be open and caring — I don’t know how to be any other way.”

A Milestone Finale

The tour will take Marsh across the country, with Brighton’s Theatre Royal hosting the opening performances in January. Venues in Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool hold particular significance for the North‑West‑born star. But the final night in Malvern promises to be unforgettable for a different reason — it falls on her 50th birthday.

“I’m not sure what we’ll be doing after the show,” she says with a mischievous smile. “But Malvern won’t be quite as peaceful as usual.”

Single White Female runs at Wales Millennium Centre from 27–31 January 2026. Tickets are available at www.wmc.org.uk