I did miss the music a bit - but only in the wings, when I was waiting to go on. It seemed dreadfully quiet, rather unnerving. But the wonderful thing was that one didn't have to be quite so obsessive about one's health, and one's voice.

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.

Learn to take rejection, keep fit and work only with the best in your field.

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

I will be singing primarily all the songs from the musicals that I have been in from over the years.

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

Actors already striving in the theatre wouldn't dream of putting themselves on these shows; it means that only about 10% of the talent out there is being auditioned for parts.