WEDDING TALK: 'I'm happier as the bridesmaid, not the bride'

Sunday Mirror, Jul 4, 2004 by Kim Medcalf

Kim Medcalf loves playing EastEnders' Sam Mitchell, and this week Sam's love life moves up a gear when gangster Andy Hunter proposes. But Kim reveals, 'It all goes a bit pear-shaped.' Although Sam's keen to marry him, she's about to discover he slept with Kat Slater behind her back. 'Nothing's plain sailing in Albert Square,' she sighs. But although the 30-year-old actress might not have an EastEnders wedding to prepare for this summer, she's got plenty to keep her going in real life. 'It's wedding season. I've had four this summer already and have another two to go to - my oldest friend's and my cousin's.'

So have all these weddings given Kim any ideas of her own? 'No, I'm happy to go along and enjoy everyone else's, but it's not the right time for me,' she says. 'At the moment I'm loving being single and enjoying the London dating scene.'

Kim was recently photographed canoodling with a mystery man, but says she's definitely not attached. We suggest her canoodler might be a useful 'plus one' during wedding season. 'I'm not taking a "plus one" to these weddings. I'll know everyone there, so I'd prefer to go on my own. And weddings are supposed to be good places to meet people. The last one I went to was in a chateau in France and I met an English guy who I went on a date with, but no, he didn't become my boyfriend! The scenery was stunning, though, and everyone got trolleyed, but in a very civilised French way,' she laughs.

But there's nothing quite as exotic in store for Kim this weekend - her cousin's wedding is in a cow shed. 'I went there a month ago and the shed was full of cows and cow pats - but she assured me they'd be out of the way on the night. We've all been helping to paint the shed and get it ready for the big day.' Kim's also official make-up artist and singer for her cousin's nuptials. 'I'm going to open the dancing with Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better.'

As Kim twirls around in 1950s-style flouncy skirts and sparkly tops for our shoot - perfect wedding outfits - she says, 'I love the whole eclectic Sarah Jessica Parker look, but I'd probably go for something plainer myself. I'm wearing a green linen dress for my cousin's do. My bridesmaid dress for the next wedding is from LK Bennett. I can't reveal the colour, but I won't be wearing anything flouncy.' Does Kim buy a new outfit for every wedding? 'I don't mind wearing the same thing if it's a different crowd, but most of my weddings this year have been university friends', so I've had to wear something different every time. The trick is to find an outfit you can wear again and dress down.'

For her own wedding, Kim says she plans to stick with traditional white, but would go for a slinky number rather than a 'meringue'. The other vital ingredients are 'alcohol, good food, and great music'. But what are her criteria for the groom? 'Humour is really important,' she says. 'If a man can make me laugh, and can laugh at himself, it's great. Matthew McConaughey is gorgeous. I like men who are tall - with bigger thighs than mine! I'm 5ft 7 and my last few boyfriends have been 6ft and over, which is perfect.'

Although marriage isn't on the agenda in real life, Kim thinks her alter ego, Sam, could do with getting hitched. 'Sam's vulnerable. Andy is tough and she craves someone to look after her. I can see why she'd go for him; he's a good-looking guy, he's got money, he wears good clothes - he ticks every box,' she explains. However, judging by the comments Kim gets from viewers, Sam would be better off with someone else. 'People come up to me and say, "Minty's good for you, Sam. You'd have a lovely life with Minty!" But much as I love him, I don't think that's going to happen...'