McGann beards up for musical

3:18pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

Joe McGann has pretty much done all you can do in the acting world.

The 49-year-old has acted on TV, in film, on stage, appeared in musicals, written songs and produced programmes for television in a little over three decades in show business.

"I have been blessed really in my career," he said.

"I have done pretty much everything that there is in the cannon and long may it continue. I'm not one of those people that think you have to specialise as different parts of your life create different interests."

McGann, the oldest of four brothers involved in show business, is currently starring in a national tour of the musical Fiddler on The Roof, for which he has grown a full beard.

"I'm on stage for most of the play and I have got to walk around and change costumes a lot so I don't want to be wearing a false beard as they can be troublesome. So I decided to stop shaving on Boxing Day and tried to grow my own and it's really quite grey.

"It lends a bit of gravitas to the set though."

Perhaps best known for his role as Charlie Burrows in nineties TV comedy The Upper Hand, Joe was at first unsure about taking a role in Fiddler on the Roof.

"I didn't really like the musical before to be honest, based on seeing the 1971 film, I thought it was a little dour.

"So when I was offered it I wasn't really sure. I read the play though and thought "this is fantastic."

"Now I am a complete convert and I can understand why it's been so popular."

It's not his familys first brush with the musical either, his father-in-law played Motel Kamzoil and Perchik in the original London production.

"It was almost like giving him a grandchild. He was able to tell me a lot about the show and he has come to see it. He even went up to the two guys playing the roles he used to and gave them advice on what they were doing."

Fiddler on the Roof, New Wimbledon Theatre, May 6 - May 10, 7.30pm, 2.30pm Thursday and Saturday, £12 - £30. Call 0870 060 6646 or visit theambassadors.com/newwimbledon/

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