The talented couple are back home in Handforth after Chris made it big with a series of roles in top American TV shows.
How did you two meet?
Chris: Back in 2007, Jen was singing in a jazz festival in Manchester and I was out with the cast of Waterloo Road at the time. I walked up and asked her to sing It Had To Be you, and then asked if she wanted to have a drink with me afterwards and the rest is history.
You’re both incredibly creative. Did you know from a young age you wanted to pursue your chosen careers as actor, and singer?
Jennie: I did. From about the age of 12. The music teacher at my school put me forward for a world-famous girl’s choir called Cantamus, based in Mansfield. I auditioned and got in. I then followed the path of training to be an opera singer at the RNCM in Manchester before embarking on the world of weddings and gigs. And I have always written and played my own music from the age of seven.
Chris: I never really considered acting when I was young as I was far more interested in sports. Then one day, a drama teacher at my school suggested I auditioned for the school play after seeing me ‘showing off’ in the playground lol. I took her advice and have never looked back, I was hooked.
Chris, it probably seems like a lifetime ago now since your character was in Waterloo Road, but do you think we may see Matt Wilding again?
I’m definitely a ‘never say never’ kind of guy and I really did have a memorable experience over four series on the show but I am enjoying watching the new class of ‘Roadies’ now. I love that they have kept the essence of what the show always was.
Jennie, I’ve known you for years. But a highlight for me was when I got the opportunity to work with you on the first album Fighting the Fairytale, in fact, I still listen to the stunning track, Freeze. I loved the shoot we did at Crewe Hall. Do you have a favourite image from that day?
I love so many of them but I would have to say the gallery shot we did was awesome because it was so dramatic. There was so much movement in the shot and it reflected the mood of my song Fairytale, and the album title. But I like it particularly because you were in the shot (hidden) helping to blow up the chiffon train behind me.
As an award-winning wedding singer (jenniesawdon.com), what’s your secret to capturing a mood for a couple's special day?
Firstly, getting to know them. The more I can understand their connection to one another the more it means to me (and them) when singing for their wedding ceremony.
In terms of setting the right mood, the most important thing to remember as a wedding musician (in my opinion) is we are there to enhance someone’s special day, not to dominate it. We are there to create a romantic and beautiful atmosphere for the couple and that can be achieved by noticing the energy of the people on the day and reacting to it. If the crowd is loud you can afford to be a little bigger in your performance, and if the party is smaller then you can be more subtle. It’s about reading the room.
Do you ever write a bespoke wedding song?
This is something I have been offering for the last year and I play my own songs at weddings for people who are fans of my music.
Chris, you got a huge break with the award-winning US comedy-drama, You’re The Worst. Tell us what happened.
I seemed to be auditioning all the time for things in the US but then all of a sudden this amazing script came through. I absolutely fell in love with the character of Jimmy but wondered if they might consider the character being changed to British as I thought that could work really well. Once I sent off my initial audition, they came back and asked me to screen test, at which point they flew me out to Los Angeles, it really was an unforgettable experience.
Was it this role that made you decide as a family to relocate to Los Angeles?
Chris: Not initially actually. I did five seasons of You’re the Worst before we considered moving to LA permanently. Jen and our son Freddie were traveling backwards and forwards during the whole of this time. It was only after I finished shooting in 2018 that we thought it might be sensible to move there as that seemed to be the place where all the work was for me. We didn’t want to spend more time apart anymore as a couple and I didn’t want to miss any more of Freddie growing up.
Jennie, what was that like for you as you had a successful career here in Cheshire and also what was Freddie’s reaction and how did you all adjust?
It was a tricky decision. I loved visiting LA every Easter and summertime, but it was a whole different thing moving out to Los Angeles and having to move Freddie into a new school. Also, the thought of giving up my career and financial independence was quite daunting but I also realised this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. It made sense to be there as this was where all the work was for Chris. Freddie did brilliantly.
As we had been visiting LA for the previous seven years we had managed to form a real network of friends and so he was excited and I was also looking forward to making my mark in the US.
Tell us about your life in LA.
Jennie: We moved out to LA in Jan of 2020 so Freddie had hardly begun school when Covid hit. As it turned out, we couldn’t really have planned to isolate anywhere better. Despite being locked up in our house, we were lucky enough to have the sunshine and our pool and so it felt like an extended holiday. It was hard being away from our loved ones though, particularly our parents who we were, of course, very worried about. During the summer of 2020, Chris booked a job on A Million Little Things, which filmed in Vancouver. Because of online school, it meant Freddie and I could go with Chris, and so we had a wonderful time exploring Canada for five months. After Covid, we settled down in LA and met many wonderful people. I did a few very high-end weddings and a big July the Fourth party in Beverly Hills for which I put a band together called The Jeneration.
Chris, you also landed the part of Kate Pearson's boss and eventual husband Phillip in the hugely successful US drama, This Is Us, which concluded last year. How did that come about?
It was a dream come true. I had watched the show from the beginning and when the opportunity came about to screen test I was so excited to meet them all. I remember arriving two hours early so I wasn’t under pressure and had a chance to walk around the Paramount lot. It was mind-blowing. Outside each stage there was a plaque stating all the productions that had been filmed there. I auditioned and later got the job on the same sound stage where they shot The Brady Bunch, The Godfather and Ghost. Such a surreal and brilliant experience.
Chris, your body of work ranges from treading the boards with Dame Judi Dench in All’s Well That Ends Well to the animated series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. What has been your career highlight so far?
I would have to say You’re the Worst, mainly because I had the huge pleasure and privilege of leading a show on an American network I feel so honoured and grateful to have done that and it gave me the springboard into more amazing roles in other mainstream network shows such as Modern Family and This is US.
Oh, and meeting Tom Hanks at the Emmys of course.
What were your favourite moments from your time in LA?
Chris: Being invited to amazing premieres of wonderful shows I’ve worked on and being able to share that with my family and have them there with me.
Jennie: See above, but probably the day trips to Malibu on the weekends and hanging out with our wonderful friends as well.
I also got the chance to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! One of my best friends out in LA is the musical director for the show and asked me to join some other singers for a Christmas segment of the show back in December 2021. It was hilarious because we had to change all the Christmas song lyrics so we sounded like Karens; it can be viewed on YouTube and it was great fun.
You’re now back in Cheshire, how has Freddie adapted to the change?
Jennie: He’s just such a trooper. He gets on with it. He still plays online with his American friends and then reverts back to a little US accent. When he’s here with his English pals he sounds British. So funny. He understands, now that he’s 10, that Daddy’s job is all over the place and that things can change pretty quickly. For now, that’s ok with him.
How did you get the idea for your podcast ‘I Love You, But..’
Jennie: It came about after an argument we had. We managed to sort out our feelings together in a relatively short time and recover through clear communication. Afterwards, we discussed how proud we were of each other. One night I woke up and thought, I want to share this with people – how normal it is to disagree over things, but how you can apply different techniques to avoid it escalating into an argument, or, if it does, how to recover the best way you can as a couple.
After saying 'I love you, but.. (blah blah)' to each other so many times it made sense to name the podcast that.
As it has developed over the past three months, I feel it’s become a 360-degree reflection of our relationship, of our likes and dislikes, our funny stories, the silliness and fun that we have with each other mixed in with some genuine chat about navigating life and relationships. We have had some wonderful feedback from our little army of dedicated followers, and not only does it seem to be genuinely helping people while entertaining them, it’s also like therapy for ourselves too along the way.
Do you have a favourite episode so far?
Jennie: We love them all and as we go along I think the episodes are getting braver and more open, but in terms of comedy (which is always in there), I would give Traits of an Evil Scorpio Woman a listen, but equally we’d love you to go back to the beginning and listen to them all.
Chris, what are your favourite grooming products?
CREED Avenuis has to be my go-to aftershave. It stays on all day
I also love Le Labo body wash and a nice simple moisturiser like Nivea
Jennie, what are your favourite beauty products?
I cannot live without my Elizabeth Arden Ceramide capsules, they are so silky on your skin. I also love Clarins Supra Volume Mascara, and Pro Body Glow by Armand Beasley – so versatile.
Where are your favourite places in Cheshire?
The Ryleys School, Alderley Edge, where Freddie is a pupil – just a wonderful school with incredible staff.
Giuliano Italian restaurant in Handforth – amazing food and brilliant staff.
pase Health Club in Mobberley – the most beautiful gym you’ve ever seen
Who’s the most famous person in your phone?
Chris: Dame Judi Dench
Jennie: Matty Healy (of the band 1975)
What are your plans for 2023?
Jennie: We would love to go on holiday as a family. We have spent such a long time travelling between the UK and California that we haven’t really had a proper holiday since Freddie was born. This is the year to take stock and decide what our next plans are for the future. I will carry on working in the wedding industry and singing brides down the aisle as I get so much pleasure from it, and Chris is looking forward to working on and producing two of his own projects. Then together we really want to build the following for our podcast, about which we are both equally passionate.
It’s the perfect time for us to reflect as a family and enjoy our life here in Cheshire.
Jennie and Chris on Instagram at:
@jenniesawdon
@jenniesawdonsinger
@cwgeere
And you can listen to 'I Love You, But... wherever you like to listen to podcasts.
