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Let it snow

Bury-born celebrity Suzanne Shaw's life has been anything but dull. She toured the world in an Abba tribute act, sold millions of albums as a member of former pop band Hear'Say, wowed London's West End as murderous vixen Roxie Hart in Chicago, won ITV's Dancing on Ice 2008, sizzled as a lingerie model, fell in love, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, had her heart publicly broken, stood up strong, found love again and walked down the aisle earlier this year. And she has just turned 28. As she returns home to star in the stage musical White Christmas, she talks to All About Manchester about theatre, family and festive bliss.

It's been an exciting ride for you since you were crowned ice queen on the ITV talent contest Dancing on Ice last March, hasn't it? What have been some of the highlights?

Doing the Dancing on Ice was so much fun, and then I got to play Roxie Hart in Chicago. I'd wanted to do this show since being at college, and having this experience in the West End was phenomenal. Then, this summer, on June 14, I got married. So it's been quite a journey over the last two years.

You finish 2009 in Manchester, starring in White Christmas. How do you feel about that?

I'm really looking forward to performing at The Lowry again and doing a show that I can't wait to get my teeth into. Plus it's given me the opportunity to spend Christmas with all my friends and family because I will be in Manchester over the Christmas season. I'm very excited about it.

Does it not make you nervous performing in front of people you know?

I prefer performing in front of people I don't know, rather than people I know, so yes, it's making me extremely nervous.

Could you tell us a bit about the show?

White Christmas is based on the Bing Crosby film. Aled Jones and Adam Cooper are in it - they play two showbiz friends who fall in love with two sisters trying to make the big time. I play one of the sisters, Judy Hayes, the fame grabber who decides to get married and settle down. It's a beautiful, beautiful show, with Irving Berlin's greatest songs.

What's Judy Hayes like?

She's very outgoing and she's the dancer of the two sisters. So there's going to be lots of dance routines to do, which I'm really looking forward to. The only thing is, I'm dancing with Adam Cooper, who is the most famous ballet dancer in the world, so it's going to be quite intimidating the first few days in rehearsal. Judy does all the big dance routines and she has ten costume changes. Apparently it's a very tough role to play, so I can't wait to get my teeth into it.

White Christmas is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, isn't it? How do you think people will react to it in the current economic climate, given the grim tidings from everywhere?

I think the show is a nice end to what has been quite a bad year for quite a lot of people. It's a very uplifting musical, and I think it's perfect for the times.

What makes theatre special to you?

I love singing and dancing, and I get a buzz out of performing live. I love the atmosphere of theatre. It's something that I've always had a passion for.

You'll be in Manchester for six weeks with the show. Is there anything you're really looking forward to doing while you're here? Any old haunts you can't wait to visit?

Yes, the Trafford Centre. It's so good to know that I can do all my Christmas shopping there. I'm also looking forward to walking around Manchester city centre. And then just going back to Bury, my hometown, to see my friends and go out to places I know there.

What's your idea of a perfect Christmas?

I just love being at home, so my perfect Christmas would be spent with my family and friends by the Christmas tree, with lots of food and lots of presents. There would be midnight Mass and carol singing. And, if it was absolutely perfect, it would snow on Christmas day.

What's the best Christmas gift you've ever received?

I'd say my son, because he was born on December 16 five years ago this Christmas.

What are you wishing for this Christmas?

Everything's so great and I feel so lucky in life. I'm just wishing for more happiness and health within my family. In terms of my career, what I'd really love to do eventually is transfer over to drama and sitcoms. One of my ultimate ambitions is to appear in American series like Entourage and Six Feet Under.

Is there anything exciting in the pipeline for you after White Christmas?

To be honest, I take one job on at a time, rather than booking myself up, because I don't know how I'm going to feel after this run - whether I'll need time out. Something that I really want to do is spend more time with the family. We have lots of hobbies, I coach football for the kids on Saturdays - not that I know much about football, but I get my football kit on and help them out - and I want to do more of that next year.

White Christmas runs from Nov 27, 2009 - Jan 9, 2010 at The Lowry. Tickets cost £22 - £37.50 and you can book by calling 0870 787 5793.

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