EXCLUSIVE
Thunder Girls star Coleen Nolan tells new how she’s embracing her fifties and savouring her freedom
‘ I w o u l d n ’t j o i n a dating app – I’m ’ ! e f i l e l g n i s g n i v lo
PHOTOS: Nicky Johnston, Wenn
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oleen Nolan doesn’t mince Hi Coleen. What happened her words and always with Kevin after the cameras talks openly when she stopped rolling? appears on the Loose We just did that show. He was Women panel. And she certainly lovely and we got on really well, didn’t disappoint when we caught but we’re not a match. As soon up with her at her Cheshire home. as he said, “I’m vegetarian and The 54-year-old star is single I go to the gym every day,” I again following a string of dates thought, “Oh no, that’s just not with property developer Kevin, 58 me.” I want to eat a bacon – who she met on Flirty Dancing sandwich and watch the telly. How are you finding single life? in December – but she admits I’m moving house, so it’s the first she’s happy on her own. “I’m time I’ve done that on my own. bloody loving it,” she giggles. Coleen is starring in the musical But I’m really enjoying it and I like the freedom. I can make The Thunder Girls, which tours a decision without worrying the UK this autumn. It follows the about anything else now. It’s very highs and lows of a girl band liberating. All my kids are still at reunion after a 30-year hiatus – something Coleen has experience home and I’ve got my girlfriends, so my house is busy. That’s why of from singing with The Nolans. I’m grateful because there are Despite this role, she admits she people out there who are has been overlooked for jobs sitting on their own. because of her age. Are you open to At least she’ll the prospect always have of dating? Loose Women, If it happens, which she that would likens to be lovely. It a comfort would have to blanket. happen pretty “I can’t organically, imagine my life so I wouldn’t join without it,” she She’s still friends a dating website. If I says. “Are there with her ex, Ray met someone and it just times we irritate each happened I’m not against it, other? Absolutely. But we’re although I’m not actively looking human. What’s lovely is we’re or yearning to meet someone. But like sisters. Even if we row on I love love and I’m really romantic. the show, it never spills over.” Here, Coleen opens up about her Are you and Ray on good terms? relationship with her ex-hubby Ray We’re better now since we’ve been divorced. We’ve become Fensome and how her children, Shane, 31, Jake, 27, and Ciara, 18, really good friends and we’ve realised that’s what we were stop her from feeling lonely…
With her three children Jake, Ciara and Shane
meant to be. I can phone Ray about anything and he’ll help me out. He comes around to see Ciara. When you’ve spent a long time with somebody, you’ve got to stop focusing on the crap that happened at the end and focus on all the years before that were brilliant. We had really great times together, so let’s focus on that. That’s lovely. How have you found your fifties so far? I loved my 50th party and I loved my first year of turning 50, but then I hit 51 and became perimenopausal. I went through a stage of feeling a bit redundant as a woman. Once you hit the menopause it’s kind of nature going, “Bye! You’re done!” I had to get a grip of that. And I’m newly divorced. I didn’t expect to get to my mid-fifties and be on my own, but I’m bloody loving it!
You do seem really happy… I’ve turned my mindset around. My sister Bernie died when she was 52. Sometimes when I’m busy I’m like, “God, she’d love to be here with all these worries.” That helps me through a lot. I’m happy that my kids are great and I’m busy. Have you ever missed out on a job because of your age? I don’t know whether I’ve missed out, but I’ve certainly not been considered for primetime stuff. It’s upsetting when I see something and think, “Oh, I would have loved to have done that.” I’ve been quite lucky that I’ve done a bit of primetime with The Real Full Monty, which I love. So you’re up for being booked for more jobs? Every day! When my agent tells me I’ve been offered this or that, I think, “I don’t know what I’m
