FROM Carry On to Corrie; Bad Girls to Babes in the Wood, actress Amanda Barrie's career has been varied to say the least.

Now the popular actress — perhaps best known for her role as Alma Sedgewick in Coronation Street — is returning to her roots with the role of Fairy Godmother in Blackpool's pantomime production of Cinderella.

WHEN Amanda Barrie takes to the Blackpool stage this New Year's Eve for her role in pantomime Cinderella, she will be marking a very special occasion.

For it will be exactly 70 years since she first stepped out, as a three-year-old, into the spotlight for her very first panto role.

Ironically, Amanda has come full circle and is playing the same character she started out in all those years ago.

“At the strike of midnight on New Year's Eve it will be exactly 70 years since I was in my first pantomime,” said Amanda. “I played the fairy on top of the Christmas tree and, funnily enough, that's what I start out as in this production of Cinderella too.

“When I think about 70 years of performing I think 'Crikey, that's ridiculous'. I've no plans to stop though — I'd love to carry on and do one next year. That's if I make it to then."

Amanda is playing Fairy Godmother at Blackpool's Grand Theatre and is thrilled at the prospect, for the town has special memories for her.

“I was so happy to be asked to come to Blackpool because I actually went to school at St Anne's College, in Lytham St Annes, and remember school trips to this theatre to watch Gilbert and Sullivan in the 1940s.

“The reason I ended up going into showbiz in the first place was actually because I was expelled from that school — they said I distracted the other pupils. I went to ballet school but got expelled from there, and when I was 13-and-a-half I went to Soho and became a chorus girl. It all went from there.”

At 16, Amanda danced at the Windsor Club alongside Danny La Rue and Barbara Windsor. In 1958 she made her West End debut and throughout the '60s worked flat out on stage in productions such as Cabaret, Private Lives, Hobson's Choice, A Public Mischief, Six Of One, She Loves Me and Little by Little.

In 1963 Amanda won the role of Anthea, a female taxi driver in Carry On Cabby, and the following year she played the title role in Carry On Cleo.

But she is probably best known for her role as Alma Sedgewick (later Baldwin) in Coronation Street from 1981 to 2001.

“I was fond of Alma and I still miss her,” said Amanda. “She was my alter ego, my nicer half. I still watch Coronation Street avidly. The only time in my life I didn't watch it was when I was in it because I didn't fancy watching myself. I can't watch like a normal viewer though — and I never will be able to now. I'll be watching thinking 'Hello, Emily's got the same coat on that she had when I was in it' or 'Oh Barbara Knox has got a new wig'.

“It makes me laugh when there's a funeral or a wedding on because I know what long days they are to film. You have to sit in a freezing cold church — I used to take so much food with me. Whenever I see them doing that I think 'Oh my God, they'll have been filming that for hours'.”

And the feeling is mutual — soap fans continue to approach Amanda on the street to talk about Alma.

“I get almost as many people coming up to me now as when I was in Coronation Street," she said. “Once you're in Corrie you'll get recognised forever. The fans are lovely, thank God, and they're always really nice to me.

“Not all actors are so lucky. When Mike Baldwin had an affair, actor Johnny Briggs who played him was most put out. He hailed a taxi but when the driver slowed down and saw who it was he said: 'I'm sorry but I'm not driving you anywhere.”

As for the future, Amanda is happy to continue as she has done, drifting from one project to the next, but always somehow finding her feet.

“I've never been particularly ambitious. I just do whatever turns up,” she said. “I always just wanted to do something fun — and luckily it has been. I enjoyed being a dancer in the chorus when I was 17 and I've loved all different sorts of work since. If I can carry on as I have been I'll be very happy with that."

l See Amanda in Cinderella at Blackpool Grand Theatre until to Sunday, January 4. Call 01253 290190 or book online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk