Get to know Ashley J Russell

THE fiery redhead, 26, started her showbiz career aged three at Falkirk's Inchyra School Of Dance. In 2008, she came sixth in BBC1's I'd Do Anything. Now she's starring with Darren Day in hit Queen musical, We Will Rock You.

Most of us know you as the feisty Falkirk lass on I'd Do Anything, but that show didn't help you land this part did it?

No. I'm a Marti Pellow fan so took my mum and my gran to see him in Witches Of Eastwick in Edinburgh last year. The programme said that We Will Rock You was going on tour for the first time and that auditions were being held. I thought, "THAT'S what I want to do", went for the audition and - a year later - here I am. To have achieved that goal is really a dream come true.

You play The Teacher and, er, Lily Allen and, as if that doesn't keep you busy enough, you also understudy as Killer Queen. How do the roles compare?

The Teacher is a lovely part. She appears quite early - in the second scene - and is the one who tries to rein in Galileo. My take on the role is slightly inspired by The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. The action is set 300 years in the future, when the Globalsoft Corporation controls the planet and it's run by Killer Queen, who's a pretty formidable character. Lily is one of a group of rebels called The Bohemians.

Isn't that quite demanding?

It's a good learning experience. I'll always have respect for understudies because, not only do you have to learn your own role, you've got an entire lead part to pick up as well. And usually you don't have as much rehearsal time. So it IS demanding but, for an actor, it's great experience.

Don't you already know when you're playing Killer Queen?

Yes - I've got the dates in my diary! I'm doing most Thursdays at the Edinburgh Playhouse and the full Christmas week, which is amazing. To play one of the lead roles in my home country is fantastic.

We hear the costumes are brilliant.

For The Teacher, I have a little blonde bob, mortar board, gown and little white dress. I don't even look like me! When I saw myself in it for the first time I looked more like my mother! For playing Lily, I have the biggest, spikiest wig you'll ever see. It's massive. Each spike must be at least a foot long so it really affects your spatial awareness - I feel about eight feet tall!

Were you a Queen fan before you got the job?

Very much. My dad is a massive fan so I grew up with their music. The stage show is very true to the music - so we've got a rock band backing us and Brian May and Roger Taylor are very much involved with the production.

That must have made rehearsals quite daunting?

The first day is a little bit like the first day of school - you don't know anyone and you're not quite sure what to expect. When we started, Brian May was there, along with Ben Elton, who wrote the show, and choreographer Arlene Phillips. They were sat at a desk in the rehearsal room while we did a read- through. That's when, inside your head, you're telling yourself, 'Be good, be good'.

Cripes! We've seen how sharp-tongued Arlene was on Strictly Come Dancing - having her come round must be terrifying?

Actually, she's really nice. She comes in now and then to give encouragement and good, constructive criticism.

Did I'd Do Anything toughen you up?

Emotionally it was tough and my stomach did a lot of churning. But it was an amazing opportunity and I made the most of it.

How did you first get involved?

I'd been studying at London's Mountview Academy of Performing Arts and a pal sent me a text about an ad in The Stage magazine. I thought I'd give it a bash. Before I knew it, I'd got through the first round, then the second and then found myself in the final 12. The whole process took months so by the time I found myself in front of the TV cameras, it seemed like a natural progression.

Sharing a house with 11 other girls all fighting for the role of Nancy must have been a nightmare?

There was a lot of pressure but there was no cattiness. I'm still friends with a lot of the others and I speak to winner Jodie Prenger every week. What made it work was that we all shared the same outlook. Nobody else knew what we were going through. It was a great bonding experience.

You were once a debt collector. Did that come in handy for intimidating TV rivals?

Ha ha! I'm sure people have visions of me knocking on doors with a baseball bat, putting on my roughest Scots accent and demanding money with menace. But I only did the admin! It was seriously not my bag - it takes a certain type of person to be a debt collector.

Alex Salmond is a fan of yours isn't he?

He sent me a letter of support while I was on I'd Do Anything and invited me up to the Parly for a cuppa and a blether. I took my Grandma Isa with me - the pair of them got on like a house on fire.

When you were eliminated, millions of viewers saw Andrew Lloyd Webber being rude to you after your version of Say A Little Prayer.

Well, we were up against Britain's Got Talent so I think they wanted to spice it up a little. Unfortunately, I took the brunt of it. It's a good thing Scots are thick-skinned!

Off-screen, isn't he very supportive?

Yes. He offered me a job workshopping Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom Of The Opera. I was also invited to his house - sorry, vast estate - to do a cabaret for his friends and family. He's been lovely.

Finally, what does the J stand for?

Jaclyn! My mum's dad, Jack, died before I was born. When my grandma remarried my papa, his wife had also passed away some years before. Her name was Lyn . . . hence Jaclyn.

READ THE INTERVIEW IN OUR e-VERSION OF ALISTED

WE Will Rock You is at Edinburgh Playhouse from Wednesday until January 9. Tickets, priced from £22 to £40, are available on 0844 847 1660.

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