Richard Fleeshman on How Coronation Street and Elton John Got Him Ready to Get Racy in Ghost

Age & Hometown: 22; Manchester, UK.

Current Role: Making a heartbreaking Broadway debut as devoted specter Sam Wheat in the musical adaptation of Ghost.

All in the Family: Young performers often think you can't make a living as an actor, but Fleeshman grew up knowing nothing else. “I was either on set with my mom after school or in a green room watching my dad’s shows at night,” says Fleeshman, whose parents and two sisters are also actors (“don't worry, we’ve heard all the Von Trapp jokes”). His own career began at 12 with a role on the massively popular Manchester-set show Coronation Street. “It was really schizophrenic,” he says. “I’d go to school in the morning, film a couple of scenes and then be back in time for maths in the afternoon.” Despite the schizophrenia, “It was an amazing time,” Fleeshman says now. “People assume you want to move on from the thing you’re most known for, but I’m so grateful to it. I got to work with Ian McKellan, for God’s sake! I may never get the chance to say that again.”

You’ve Got the Music in You: Fleeshman grew up a musician as much as an actor. Piano lessons started at eight and guitar followed not long after. At age 11 he gave up piano for a year until he had a very important change of heart. “I realized that girls really liked it if you played the piano,” he says with a laugh. “So I started playing all day every day.” Practice paid off, and when Fleeshman finished his four-year stint on Coronation Street, he was offered a deal from Universal Records. One album later he got the offer of a lifetime: touring with his childhood idol Elton John. It’s only in hindsight that Fleeshman is properly floored. “Only after do you think ‘Wow,’” he says. “Because if you ever acknowledge the enormity of something at the time, you'd implode a little bit.”

Ghost with the Most: Fleeshman was walking on air after landing the leading role in Ghost, but his dream almost ended when he was struck by a car during rehearsals. “I had the same reaction as [Ghost character] Sam,” he says of the incident, in which his lower leg was badly injured. “Like, 'What is everyone screaming about?' before I realized it was me.” The accident created eerie parallels with his spectral role: “I realized what it is to lose something in an instant. That sounds actor-y and wanky, but it’s true.” From the West End to New York, Fleeshman calls his Ghost gig “the best job in the world. And we’ve gotten a lot more racy on Broadway,” he says. Oh, so that's why the New York press has been all aflutter about his abs. “No,” he exclaims, “the reason is that someone selected a porn picture to go on this theater! I was like, ‘Mum, there’s a picture of me having sex on here.'” He laughs. “That’s one to show the grandkids.”