If you are in a play, and you catch a cold, you are able to muddle through. If you are carrying a musical, it's a different thing altogether. It's the great fear of any singer's life.

One was never taught how to begin at drama school. But all it required was one intake of breath.

I don't listen to so much music now. I did when I was younger. Music is so much part of my work. I like peace and quiet now when I go home.

You couldn't even write me a paper about the roles you would dream of playing in modern musical theatre.

My first singing role was as Susanna in a school production in a shortened form of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. I loved to sing and I was given lots of encouragement by a wonderful music teacher Mrs Ann Hill and by my parents who suggested I go to drama school.

My dad always told me that perseverance furthers. He was right.

Just because you are successful in one area does not necessarily mean you're going to be successful in another.