COMMENTS to reports that former TV host Amelia ‘Milk’ Sewell has recorded and is releasing music have been fast and furious. “Music? Milk? That’s a laugh”, “What is she trying?”, “She jus’ nuff.”

Then came the announcement that she was taking to the stage in the revival of David Heron’s hit play, Against his Will. This, too, was greeted with the firestorm of comments.

But Milk is no stranger to negative comments. In fact, she has developed a strategy to deal with them — pushing them far behind her, always, as she puts it, “rolling with the punches”.

She also admits that although she is best known for her work in television, acting came first. “It all started at an early age, as being the precocious child, I was cast in a Colgate commercial by none other than broadcaster and actress Fae Ellington who had seen me in performance at a prep school event. This then led to a stint with Cathy Levy’s Little People and numerous stage productions both locally and overseas.”

So the call from director Douglas Prout for her to read for a part in Against His Will was right up her street and just what the doctor ordered — an opportunity to return to the stage and show another side to her talents.

With the play set to open tonight, and Milk hitting the stage on Sunday as actress Nadia Khan’s alternate, what is going through her mind?

“I am a little nervous — that’s human — but for the most part it is a feeling of exhilaration. I know I will do a pretty good job,” she gushes. “The truth is I can’t allow myself to fail. Having already been to the depths of despair, this has to be a moment to triumph,” Milk adds.

The usually bubbly persona dissipates as Splash questions these ‘depths of despair’. Milk fidgets with the crucifix dangling from her necklace as she explains how her world came crashing down in June of 2008 when her private sex tape became public.

“I was at home and my hairdresser called. She told me there was a girl in the salon viewing a clip of a woman performing oral sex, and said the woman looked like me. My then boyfriend and I had filmed ourselves many times, so I told her there was a strong possibility. Once it was confirmed I called my mother and then sat my son down to explain the situation fully,” she says.

She says that even as the tape was being eagerly consumed by the public, she had no idea she would have lost her job. “I decided from the get-go that I was not going to run and hide. The situation was unfortunate. We had made a private recording, not for public consumption, and yet I was being made to feel guilty.”

Still, the effect it would have on her son tore at her constantly, but she explains that those close to him — including students, teachers and even the PTA — handled the matter well. She has nothing but praises for them, she says, given what could have taken place.

A dedicated circle of friends and supporters also helped bolster her resolve. Milk says Diamond-selling Reggae/Dancehall act Shaggy and selector Tony Matterhorn were among those in her corner.

“I remember Shaggy calling just to see if I was OK. Then during one of his calls he offered me the lead female role in the video for Bad Man Don’t Cry. Matterhorn took me to Weddy Weddy one night shortly after it all happened and openly supported me. That was reassuring,” she states.

Milk says she has come out of the situation even stronger, stressing her “ever fresh, never curdle” mantra. he believes it was destiny and says she would do no different if she had the chance to do it again.

“My life has been an epic, a series of highs and lows and I just roll with the punches and rise like cream. One day I will write a book about these experiences but I hope the tape was my last low,” she says.

The hope is that Against His Will will be the start of another high.

Milk admits that for a fleeting moment she did reconsider taking on the role, given the character and the plot’s big question: Can a woman rape a man? But the magnetic pull to the stage was greater than the possible negative comments.

She is also excited about her music, particularly an upcoming single, Pretty Kitty, set for release this fall.

“Initially I was sceptical about going into the music industry, but I have been approached by producers to voice on their riddims and surprisingly, I am enjoying it and getting good feedback.”

Her one complaint is that she is not getting the required airplay for her other singles, due to what she describes as jocks not taking her seriously as an artiste.

But music and acting are only two areas of interest for the former TV host. Milk tells Splash that she is producing for television and is working on returning to radio as well.

“I really just want to be given a chance to show what I can do.”

— Richard Johnson