X Factor Winner Shayne Ward Feels the Noize as Stacee Jaxx in London's Rock of Ages

Recording star Shayne Ward is a 2005 winner of Simon Cowell’s X Factor, but only now is the Twitter favorite making his West End debut. Ward, soon to be 27, has signed on through March to play bad boy rocker Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages, the wild 1980s songfest set to open at the Shaftesbury Theater September 28. Broadway.com joined the instantly likable and engaging Ward in his dressing room during previews to find out what it's like swapping Cowell-style fame for life in a raucous, hit-filled stage musical.

It certainly looks from the posters and images in this dressing room as if you’re getting into the Rock of Ages groove.
As you can see, I’ve got Bon Jovi, Journey, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne—even Samantha Fox up there.I suppose you might call it method acting, but it’s just that I like to get myself so involved in the moment that the minute the costumes and the wig go on, I become that character.

And those nails [painted a slightly chipped black]…
That’s Kristin’s decision [director Kristin Hanggi]. See the nail varnish on the shelf? I have to re-do them today before I go on because if they’re not right, everything gets noted. You’re going on as a rock star, so you need to be really prepared as far as how you dress and how you look. The thing with Stacee Jaxx is that he’s meant to be the money guy, you know, the biggest thing in the world!

No small pressure then! And Tom Cruise is playing your role in the forthcoming film.
When I first heard that, I was over the moon; I would love to see him play the ultimate rock star. The word of mouth I’ve heard going around is that he’s playing a good rock star while I am playing the bad rock star. Whichever it is, I’m very happy to stick with being the bad boy [laughs]. With Rock of Ages being a hit on Broadway and coming to London for the first time and the film coming out, this is just going to keep on going and going and going.

How did a nice reality TV veteran like you end up in a bad-ass show like this?
[Laughs.] I’ve always wanted to act. I grew up in Manchester in a big Irish family—there are seven of us in all—so my life has always been about role-playing, about doing anything for a laugh. I’m always joking about; that’s the way I am. The only difference here is that I’m wearing leather chaps, and I get to wear a wig.

Was this the sort of role you pictured yourself playing?
When I first got the script, I didn’t know [Stacee Jaxx] was American, and I actually did the audition in my own [northern English] voice; I knew that if I did get the part, I could get a diction coach or someone to help me with the words. What’s good is that I know the world of the show—Sunset Strip, L.A., all that. I’ve spent years recording in L.A. so I know how it can be: how false, how everyone’s an aspiring actor or singer or model. But I’ve had some amazing times in L.A., as well, and I think that definitely helps.

What about the music?
I looked in a mirror and went: Me? Rock? Really? Singing Bon Jovi songs and Foreigner songs? And I was like, yep, I can do it [laughs].

Your L.A. must have been different from the 1980s milieu of the show.
I was born in 1984, but I wish I was about 20 years older so I could have experienced this life, because I watch the show and I think, “This is incredible!” [Laughs.] Even the whole dress code is ridiculous—I absolutely love the leathered-cowboy look! It’s so out there that I do wish I was about 20 years older.

The West End routine must be entirely new for you.
It’s very unusual for me because I’ve done touring all over the world, and three shows back to back, but then you have a rest day and a travel day to get to the next place. Here, it’s every single night with the same people and so it’s teaching this [he points to his throat] to maintain itself. Being Irish,I like to drink—it’s in my blood—but I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol since July because I want to be the best I can be. I had an operation for nodules at the end of 2006 so I know what it means to take care of the voice. [Subsequent to this interview, Ward missed one of the press previews.]

Does your experience with Simon Cowell and winning the British X Factor feed in any way into the world of this show?
I don’t think it does, really; the industries are so completely different. People ask me if I have any advice about TV talent shows and I always say, “Go for it, but only if you’re strong enough and you’re ready to be public property”—and by that I mean journalists and fans and non-fans and people shouting abuse, and also the people who love you. You’re going to be shot into a world where you have “yes people” and “no people,” and you need to be strong enough mentally and have a strong family behind you so that you keep your feet on the ground. I’ve had ups and downs, I’ve been happy and my God I’ve been sad, but at the same time I don’t believe in living in bitterness; that’s not me.

The idea of attracting and holding on to a public—an important issue for Stacee—must be recognizable to you.
What’s nice in England is that everybody is treated on the same level, and that’s always the way it should be. I mean, you should see some of the [contract] riders that are out there! I was on a bill with 50 Cent recently in Ireland and he had a slush puppy machine and bottles of Krystal vodka. I had my steamer, honey and a kettle—that’s all I need. And some water.

So, does this mark the beginning of a new career for you: more theater? Other acting work?
I have a newfound respect for the anyone who’s part of the West End because they’ve worked so hard, myself included with them, and the amount of commitment you need is not easy. What I would say is that it has opened up a career for acting, definitely, because I get to act and sing at the same time, whereas before I was just singing. I’d love to venture into TV or do some gritty dramas—Guy Ritchie, that kind of thing. I love a challenge, and I think it’s when people least expect you to do something that you often do your best.