Stephanie Wilson, 56, from Westcliff, opens in the musical HONK! at the Palace Theatre tonight. For tickets call 01702 351135.

When did you start to take an interest in theatre? My first show was the Sound of Music when I was 14 and I played Louisa.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama? My grandmother performed in old time musicals. My daughter is also a member of the Little Theatre Company.

Have you done any sort of formal training for acting, singing or dancing? I started singing lessons at the age of ten. I had quite a formal classical training, which included opera and oratorio. Aged about 12, I started drama classes and worked my way through the Lamda exams.

Do you have any specialist skills which you work into your repertoire? I’m afraid not. I am good with animals though, which was handy when I had to walk a live goat on to the stage for White Horse Inn. It proceeded to disgrace itself on the stage while I was singing.

Which role do you regard as the highlight of your amdram career to date?

Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

What has been your most embarrassing moment involving drama? One of the best was a quick change in the wings for Half a Sixpence as Helen Walsingham and realising as I walked across the stage that a white plastic coat hanger was swinging from my lacey dress!

How do you earn your living? Teaching. I have three jobs. Learning support in the SENCO department of King Edmunds School, evening classes in creative arts at Thurrock Adult Community College and during the school holidays, I work at a variety of prisons in and around London in Offender Learning.

Has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job? I use drama all the time, either to demonstrate through role play or for confidence building.

Are your friends mostly involved in theatre? I have met most of my best friends throughout my life through drama and theatre. I met my husband in the theatre club and my closest chum is the girl I sang duets with when we were 8!

Which actor do you most admire and why? Meryl Streep, because she lives every role she plays.

What role would you most like to play and why? Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened? When I performed in On The 20th Century, there was a really tricky number where I had to combine two songs, skipping from one to the other as various people appeared on stage after a quick change. Unfortunately, I got the verses muddled up and watched people in various states of dress hurriedly appearing on stage looking startled, while others darted on and then off again unsure whether they should be there or not.