'Hollyoaks' unveils third new family

Stephanie Davis wowed audiences in her bid to be the next Dorothy on Over The Rainbow. Now she's set to win new fans by playing Sinead O'Connor. She's part of the new family headed up by stepmum Diane (Brookie's Alex Fletcher) and dad Rob (Gary Cargill). Little brother Finn (Connor Wilkinson) completes the clan. Steph brought us up to speed.

How are you enjoying Hollyoaks so far?

I'm made up. It's brilliant.

How did your role come about?

I had just finished Over The Rainbow and I spoke to Arlene Phillips. She asked me to go down to Flashdance so I did a few dance routines with her, and she offered me the part of the understudy for Gloria. I was really happy then I had a call from Hollyoaks who asked me to come down for the new family.

What happened next?

I did one audition and found out I'd got it. We were in quite a rush because I had to let Arlene know. I ended up taking Hollyoaks because I absolutely love it. I used to watch it all the time. I came into work when I first started and was calling everyone by their characters' names. I followed my heart. And it's bonus that I can stay at home because it's filmed in Childwall.

Tell us about your character?

Sinead is quite a mischievous girl, she the bad girl in school. She's going to bring a lot of mischief into Hollyoaks. She's got two sides to her. She's got a mature grown up side, she's very protective and wants to look after her mum and dad and little brother Finn. But at school she is very different and gets into trouble. Her dad gets a job as deputy head and I rebel against that. I don't want anyone to know he's my dad.

Why did her parents call her Sinead O'Connor?

I do not know why! I think it's because my dad in it is quite a cool dad. He's down with it, and into all his music. Maybe he had a thing for Sinead O'Connor. I'm not sure.

Which characters will Sinead interact with?

I become friends with Amber, in the Sharpe family. I don't really become friends with her straight away because she's a bit mean to my brother. But she becomes quite cool. She's a lot younger than my character but has an older brother.

Are there any boys on the horizon for Sinead?

She comes in single. Hollyoaks has so many cute guys, who I am made up about working with! But she's quite free spirited, and doesn't want to stick with anyone too long. She gets a few lads liking her. There's one man in particular I like. We'll just have to wait and see!

What relationship does she have with her step-mum and how does she feel about Diane's IVF treatment?

At the start I think she is keeping it cool. She's not happy with it whatsoever and then an event happens which turns around her attitude. She becomes the mature one and has to take an adult role. She grows up quite quick.

Sinead is really close to Diane. We've had some lovely scenes.

How do you get on with Alex Fletcher?

I'm really close to Alex. We have similar personalities and get on really well. I used to watch Brookside and then when it finished I went on to watch Casualty. We've got some lovely scenes together that are quite emotional. Our family has all fitted in really well. It's been amazing.

Was Hollyoaks always your favourite soap?

It was. I love Hollyoaks. Because I do acting I look at it from a different point of view, the camera angles, the acting, the continuity. My mum would say 'it's okay for them, but you've got to work hard and do your GCSEs.' But I was more interested in acting and tapping my foot under the table at school.

Have you always wanted to be in Hollyoaks?

I have. And I've always wanted to be in the West End. I've always loved it. I write my own songs and play the piano. I have thought about it a lot but never thought I'd get there. It's a really hard industry. I'm really lucky to have gone straight from Over The Rainbow to Hollyoaks.

Who were you excited about meeting from the soap?

Jorgie Porter (who plays Theresa) because she went to the same school I went to so it was good to see her again. And Carley Stenson (Steph) - she's really lovely. Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren) is such a funny guy. And Alex Carter (Lee), who's just come back in, is one of the funniest guys I've ever met. He's a really good friend.

What's it like working with the producer, Paul Marquess?

He's fab. I'm so happy to be working with him. I was really excited when I found out it would be him. Hollyoaks is going up and it's going to be fantastic. This year and by next year's soap awards it's going to be really, really good.

Have you heard from Andrew Lloyd Webber about your role in Hollyoaks?

This will sound really bad, but it's been that busy. You are you up at 6 every morning, you film until half 7 or 8. I've not had a chance. Some of the girls have gone into shows but I've been filming when they've had their opening nights. I'm going to see Steph, Sophie, Lauren and Jenny soon. I keep in touch with them all. And I've got to give Andrew a ring. I've got a contact number for him on my mobile.

How did you feel about Danielle winning Over The Rainbow?

I was made up. All of us girls went on a journey together and I was so happy to see one of my close friends get it. I loved Sophie and Danielle so in the end we were happy whoever won. They were both fantastic.

Are you still singing?

I am. I'm working on some songs. I want to stay in Hollyoaks for a really good while but I want to bring my music out. I'm working on a few tracks at the moment. Hopefully I'll bring them out in the next few years. That will be my next step I want to do it all! I'm being a bit greedy.

Do you have a dream West End role?

I'd love to play Mimi in Rent. It would be brilliant if that came back to the West End. And I'd love to play Elphaba in Wicked and Thelma in Chicago.

ACTRESS Stephanie Davis has revealed that Arlene Phillips offered her the chance to star in a theatre production of Flashdance before she landed her role on teen soap Hollyoaks.
Stephanie, 17, caught the former Strictly judge's attention after making it through to the live shows on Andrew Lloyd Webber hit Over The Rainbow ealier this year.

But after auditioning for the choreographer, Hollyoaks bosses offered her a role and she leapt at the chance.

Stephanie said she was "really happy" about Arlene's offer.

But she added: "Then I had a call from Hollyoaks, who asked me to come down for the new family.

"I ended up taking Hollyoaks because I absolutely love it. I used to watch it all the time."

Stephanie will play feisty Sinead O'Connor, who enters the show as part of a new family.

Former Brookside star Alex Fletcher will play her mother, Diane.

Hollyoaks' ongoing revamp enters a new stage tonight as the Channel 4 soap's third new family make their debut on screen.

The O'Connor clan - consisting of new Hollyoaks High recruit Rob, marketing worker Diane and Rob's two children Sinead and Finn - have moved to the village recently and are excited to be making a fresh start when viewers see them for the first time.

As it's the first day of a new school year, Rob is all set to take up his new position of deputy head, while Sinead and Finn are preparing for their first day as new pupils. Diane, meanwhile, is every inch the proud wife and stepmum as her family embark on their new beginning.

Former Brookside star Alex Fletcher, who plays Diane, recently told DS that she "just wanted the family to come in and be likeable - a family who you can just warm to and care about", which can often be a difficult task when it comes to introducing a new clan to an established soap.

However, with a good mix of family warmth and tension after Rob is promoted to the position of headteacher on his first day - to Diane's delight and Sinead and Finn's horror - there's a real sense that the O'Connors will be adding the ingredient of an everyday, down-to-earth family unit that viewers will be able to recognise and relate to.

But just when we think we know all we need to about these new arrivals, things take a twist as the week progresses and Diane's IVF storyline comes to the fore.

Alexandra Fletcher
When Rob is late home from work and Diane needs somebody to administer her latest IVF shot, we quickly see a startling new side to the stepmum-of-two as she loses her cool and starts to panic, causing concern for Sinead and Finn.

With that incident and its aftermath resulting in tensions for the rest of the week, it seems that there's lots of unresolved issues bubbling under the surface for this family. Diane's desperate desire for a child of her own is now clear, but just how far will she go to achieve her dream? And what will the effect be on her two stepchildren and her marriage?

Alex recently told us: "This storyline is great because there's just loads of avenues that they could take it down… [Diane] is desperate - she really, really wants a baby of her own. That will unfold."

And with Alex also teasing that she has a second big storyline on the way, it looks like the O'Connors will be at the centre of plenty of drama on Hollyoaks in the months to come…

Sinead is suppose to be pregnant and considers an abortion as she dont know who the father is