FOR one who has only just turned 24 years old, Amy Nuttallhas already notched up a great deal of experience as both an actress and a singer.

She was the youngest ever performer, at just 17, to play the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera, a role that she understudied for two years from the age of 16. She also starred in the TV soap Emmerdale for almost five years, as Chloe Atkinson, and she won TV's Stars in Their Eyes Celebrity Special in 2004 with her impersonation of Sarah Brightman.

Last year, she released her debut solo album, which is selling well.

Amy has been touring with My Fair Lady since September last year and told the Advertiser she has relished taking on the role of Eliza, following in the shoes of Martine McCutcheon, whose West End performance was dogged by ill health.

"It is a really demanding role as there are seven solos, so it is really tough if you are ill," said Amy.

"If you are ill, you are ill and there is nothing you can do about it. I've really taken care of myself and, fortunately, I've been ok, although I'm full of hay fever at the moment. Luckily, it doesn't affect my singing voice but it feels uncomfortable."

Perhaps because of the problems that resulted when Martine became unwell, Amy shares the role with 22-year-old Lisa O'Hare, which gives her the opportunity of a short break.

"Sharing the role is much the best way to do it, I think," said Amy. "I do six shows a week and Lisa does two and that works really well."

Amy is no stranger to taking the centre stage in a major musical. She understudied the vocally-demanding role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera for two years and had just turned 17 when she was first called on to play the part.

"Being an understudy was probably the best way of doing it," she said, philosophically. "It doesn't give you the chance to get all nervous and worked up about it. When I played Christine it was amazing. We were at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool and my mum was just dropping me off at the theatre at 6pm when I got a call on my mobile to say I was on that night. My mum was wearing her bikini, her sundress and flip-flops and she just parked up the car and came in and watched me."

Despite spending almost five years starring in the soap Emmerdale, Amy says she much prefers the theatre.

"It's a completely different experience," she said. "On a soap, no two weeks are the same. You can be very busy one week and then sitting around twiddling your thumbs the next.

It all depends on the storyline.

"Theatre is much more demanding but it is also rewarding. In TV, if you have a bad day and make a mistake you can just start again but in theatre there is much more pressure. In theatre you get much more of a buzz and a rush of adrenaline and it is great when the know the audience has really enjoyed it."

Amy has relished playing the role of Eliza as it represents a childhood dream come true.

"I always wanted to perform and I loved My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins. In fact, I was obsessed with them so it is a fantasy come true.

"I love singing 'I Could Have Danced All Night', although it is not as easy as it looks. I have to run and sing at the same time so I have to make sure I get my breathing right."

It was her desire to fulfil her singing ambitions that prompted Amy to quit soap acting.

After winning Stars in Their Eyes: Celebrity Special with her version of Sarah Brightman's 'Time to Say Goodbye', Amy decided to pursue her singing career more seriously. She released her solo album Best Days last year and it is doing well. She also plans to record a second album when she has finished My Fair Lady.

As to any other plans she has once the My Fair Lady tour is over, those will have to wait until she has taken a well-earned holiday.

"I can't wait," she said. "I'm looking at the brochures already."