Former EastEnders star Michael Greco talks to What’s On about surviving fame as a soap star, a surprising career change, and returning to a familiar role (not that one) in Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at the Wolverhampton Grand...

Twenty years ago Michael Greco was at the height of his fame - but he wasn’t particularly enjoying it. He adored his five-year stint playing Beppe di Marco in EastEnders, but not the stardom that went with it.

“I kind of got disillusioned with the whole acting business when I left EastEnders,” he says. “I didn’t like the fame, I didn’t like the celebrity status, and I decided I just didn’t want it anymore.

“People don’t understand that the fame we had from EastEnders 20 years ago was completely different to anything now. Back then we had 20 million viewers, so we were recognisable in the street by every man and his dog, from young kids to old people. Everybody would know who you were, even if they didn’t watch the show. We were at its peak - you’ll never get soaps with 20 million viewers ever again.”

After giving up acting, Michael stumbled into an unexpected second career as a professional poker player, touring the world and winning more than $1million along the way. 

“I fell into poker at a casino one night and really loved it. Then this company came in and started sponsoring me, so I travelled the world playing poker - with their money, I might add - and was very successful at it for about 10 years.”

He admits his acting skills came in handy in terms of maintaining a poker face in the cauldron-hot atmosphere of competition.

“When you’re playing for millions of dollars, especially somewhere like Las Vegas, it’s like being a swan - serene on top of the water, but your feet are going ten to the dozen underneath. It’s the same with your heart - your heart is going through the roof, but you have to have a poker face because so many great professionals in the world can read you. Your eyes give away a lot - that’s why people wear sunglasses playing poker - the pulse in your neck… everything can give you away. 

“There’s a lot of luck in poker, but there’s a lot of skill as well. Being an actor definitely helped.”
The ‘acting’ element contributed to something of a renaissance with his chosen profession, too. A stint living and working in Los Angeles saw him “get the love for it back”, as well as picking up better and better roles.

He’s recently been filming The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, a prequel to the hugely popular film series. It’s already one of the most anticipated movies of 2023. So much for wanting to avoid fame and stardom!

“I think I’m a bit older and wiser now so can handle it a bit more. I was on set the other day with Viola Davis, who is obviously one of the darlings of Hollywood, and was thinking how lucky I’ve been to have a second bite of the cherry in my career - and being able to do things that I love doing, including theatre and panto.”

Which brings us nicely on to his latest role, as the evil Abanazar in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s new production of Aladdin, appearing alongside Zoe Birkett, Ben Cajee, Tam Ryan, Ian Adams and Duane Gooden.

It’s a show Michael knows and loves well - but having played the baddie twice before, he’s being encouraged to take it to a whole new level this time out.

“It’s a great part to play. I’ve done it before, but this time I’ve been promised by the producers that they’re going to make him even more evil, so I’m really looking forward to that. This is going to be more than just your normal pantomime villain - this is gonna be a proper actor’s stage Abanazar! 

“I’m too old to play the good characters now - maybe when I was younger! But playing the villain is so much more fun.”

Michael would even want to bring a dark side to serially luckless Beppe, if the character ever returned to Albert Square.

“Beppe was a good guy - he was the knight in shining armour most of the time. That was really fun to play at the time, but if I ever went back, I think I’d want him to be a little bit more evil.” 

Michael’s not planning any nods to his famous alter-ego in his portrayal of Abanazar, but admits EastEnders’ well-known cliff-hanger drum beats will almost certainly make an appearance in the show: 
“I’m sure there’ll be at least one ‘duff duff’ moment!”

After a couple of difficult post-Covid years for the theatre industry, there’s mercifully little drama hanging over the new production, with a strong, confident cast and ticket sales “through the roof”, according to Michael.

“We could be heading for capacity audiences every night,” he says, delighted that the cost-of-living crisis has potentially fuelled rather than dented the audience’s appetite.
“I think the tickets are well priced, but at Christmas everybody wants a bit of relief and to get away from this, that and the other. Panto is the ideal way for families to enjoy some escapism, and Aladdin’s the perfect panto for that. Everyone knows the story of Aladdin and the lamp, and I think kids especially will love this kind of magical, theatrical performance.”

And while Michael admits he’s looking forward to getting booed - by kids and adults alike - he expects his villain’s downfall to elicit some sympathy too, given panto’s predilection for a happy, feelgood ending. 
“There’s always the demise of the baddie at the end, because there has to be, but there’s a transition along the way, so I’m hoping that when I get my demise, people are going to feel sorry for me as well.”

Throw in a fabulous venue and cast - some of whom have already asked him for poker lessons - and Michael admits the six-week run can’t come soon enough.

“The theatre’s incredible - it’s one of those old-style theatres that I love, with a really close auditorium - and there’s some really great talent in the show as well. I’m really looking forward to it; I can’t wait for the six weeks to start.”

Aladdin shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Saturday 3 December to Saturday 7 January.