From the farm to the stage: Every night’s a party for Wedding Singer and former Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett

ROXANNE PALLETT feels like she’s endured a night of hard partying after coming off the stage each evening.

The former Emmerdale star is playing wild child Holly in the stage musical adaptation of hit movie, The Wedding Singer.

“I don’t drink or go clubbing, yet every night when I go back to the hotel it feels like that’s exactly what I’ve been out doing,” smiled Roxanne.

“It takes up all of my energy and I’m running on adrenalin, but it’s great fun.

“I’m not a gym girl. This is the greatest shape I’ve been in since I did Dancing On Ice. In fact, this is probably the best condition I’ve ever been in.

“We do eight shows in five days every week.”

It’s a long tour, beginning in Leicester in February and running until October. But the Carlisle-born star doesn’t mind constantly being on the move.

“I haven’t been home since we opened but after this week I can go home every weekend, which is nice.

“I don’t look at my watch when I’m at work – I enjoy being lost in it. We do the job because it’s something we love. It’s a lifestyle.

“As an actor, you never know what’s round the corner or what the next phonecall will bring.

“Quite often, jobs are short-lived in our line of work, but for the next six months this is our project.

“People ask if I get bored doing the same show but it’s always a different response, different cities, different theatres – nothing is ever the same.”

The 34-year-old likes to make hotel rooms and dressing rooms as homely as possible while she’s on the road – with a little help from her mum.

“I put up my good luck cards and I have my little radio and pillow spray.

“I’m sent so many flowers on opening night. My mum thinks I have enough of those, so she sends me something else. She’ll put a nice bottle of perfume in my suitcase or send me packages of chocolate and sweets.

“I have friends around the country – I went to university in Liverpool and worked in London – so it’s great to see them. I can’t wait to come to Glasgow, which is where my Cumbria friends and family will see the show.”

The production also comes to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness in June.

Based on the comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer is set in 1985 and follows the story of rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart, who is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer.

When his fiancée dumps him at the altar, Robbie makes every wedding he works at as disastrous as his own.

It’s up to sweet-natured Julia and her best friend, Holly, to help him straighten his life out. And will anyone but Grandma Rosie see that Robbie and Julia are meant to be together?

The show also features X Factor runner-up Ray Quinn, West End star Jon Robyns and comedy veteran Ruth Madoc.

Roxanne continued: “It’s such a feel-good, uplifting show.

“You don’t need to have watched the film to enjoy it because it’s a universal story.

“I was born in 1982, so I’m such an ’80s kid. I remember the shoulder pads, the bright colours and Madonna playing on my mum’s car radio.

“There seemed to be such freedom at that time.

“Holly’s a New Jersey eccentric based on Madonna.

“There’s something for everyone in the show and by the end the audience is out of their seats and dancing.”

As well as stage work, Roxanne has starred in a number of films since leaving the role of Emmerdale’s Jo Sugden behind, including Lake Placid 3, Wrong Turn 6 and Devil’s Tower.

She added: “I’ve done a lot of horror but also thrillers and comedies, too.

“You can’t force what comes your way. I’ve played a schoolgirl on Waterloo Road, a horror victim, a wild child and a battered wife on Emmerdale.

“I have such affection for that character. The Emmerdale producers left the door open and it’s lovely to have that relationship.

“I feel honoured that my career started on such a level as Emmerdale.

“It was a great place to learn and who knows what will happen in the future.

“I know never to say never.”

The Wedding Singer, King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tues 18th -Sat 22nd April 2017