FROM being frightened to death on her opening night, Linda Nolan has nothing but warm words for her first serious acting role in the multi-award winning musical Blood Brothers.

The production reopened after a six week break in Belfast last week and arrives in Malvern on September 25 for a six-night run.

With awards and nominations on both sides of the Atlantic, Blood Brothers has been one of the big hits of the last decade.

It tells the story of twin boys, who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to be reunited by a twist of fate.

Linda followed her sister Bernadette into the role of Mrs Johnstone, after the latter was called to appear in the play's West End production.

Despite her extensive experience in front of every kind of audience, she admits to being terrified at her first opening, although that feeling has now been replaced with sheer pleasure at the show's success.

"I would love to do some more stage musicals and maybe some straight acting," she said. "I have really just enjoyed it so much.

"There's pressure in every new venture in any business you go into. I did feel I would die on my opening night, I was really so frightened.

"I have had a great response, which has been nice, and it's a wonderful part."

She said Bernadette had been a big help when she took the part, indicative of the close family relationship she still enjoys.

Most of the famous sisters still live in Blackpool, where her mother and father moved to in 1964 from Dublin.

Like many in a family of entertainers, she started young, touring with her parents and sisters around the working men's clubs of northern England and Scotland.

Her part in the Nolan Sisters' success ended in December 1983, when she left to pursue a solo career.

One of the biggest parts of her career since has been the starring role in Maggie May, which ran for ten years and more than 1,000 performance at Blackpool's Central Pier Theatre.

She has also popped up on television, in series like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Shooting Stars, as well as being a veteran in pantomime.

Blood Brothers is at the Malvern Theatres from Monday, September 25, to Saturday, September 30. Weekday performances are at 7.30pm, Saturday at 8pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £16 to £25, from 01684 892277.