From making her name as part of chart-toppers Hearsay to her 13 year stint on Coronation Street and beyond, Kym Marsh seemed like one of our warmest and most approachable stars.

But audiences in Manchester are discovering that she has tapped into her dark side playing dog-murdering fashionista Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians the Musical.

(Image: Phil Tragen)

She said: “I enjoy playing villainous roles because they are so far removed from me so you really have to try and get into the head of that person.

“But then trying to get into the head of a person who wants to skin puppies to wear is especially alien to me because I’m such a huge dog lover. I have two of my own and I adore them.”

Cruella isn’t just any villain - she’s the most fabulous villain there is and Kym can’t wait to get in front of an audience.

“I think people ate going to absolutely love her,” she said. “The costumes are brilliant and when she walks on she’s just in command of everything - she’s the most fun character ever.”

Best of all, Kym says, is her Cruella hair. Of course she will be sporting that famous black and white look “but,” she teases, “there won’t be just one wig. There are going to be several changes and it’s not what you expect from her. We are like Cruella De Vil times 10!”

It’s not all fun and games though. For Kym, one of the big challenges of the role has been getting back into singing mode again after many years concentrating on other pursuits.

(Image: Johan Persson)

“If you don’t sing, you forget,” she said, adding that although she had a role in the Take That musical Greatest Days last year “I didn’t have a lot to sing in that - there were no solos and nothing hugely taxing.

“Whereas in this I’ve got my own songs and a lot to learn.”

Rehearsals for the UK tour of 101 Dalmatians coincided with filming of the BBC TV series Waterloo Road in which Kym plays canteen worker Nicky.

“I was left feeling quite overwhelmed with everything, thinking ‘what am I doing?’ But in a good way. I just concentrated on living and breathing for those weeks.”

Kym has always been adept at juggling responsibilities from starting out as a performer, while bringing up two children as a single mum. She credits her parents for her drive to succeed.

(Image: Newsquest)

“I fell pregnant at a very young age and my parents were like ‘this is even more reason for you to continue and carry on pursuing your dream and make the life that you want, not just for you but for the children’.

“I was very much spurred on and encouraged and I’m thankful for that.”

Her first break came in Popstars, the ITV series in which she and four others were selected to be part of the group Hearsay; the programme paving the way for Pop Idol and The X Factor.

Reflecting on those days, Kym says it was a “unique and very strange time” but also a great learning experience.

“We were guinea pigs and people were watching thinking ‘what’s going to happen now?’ she said. “People were very much waiting for us to fail and every move we made, there was comment about it.”

After Hearsay, Kym’s transition to acting came about ‘by accident’. Having left Hearsay and staring out on a solo career she was dropped by the record label but was offered a role in a West End production of Saturday Night Fever.

“Once I started to do that I remembered my love of acting which I had as a teenager but not pursued because I felt I could make money singing in the pubs and clubs,” she said.

More acting roles followed including that of Michelle Connor in Coronation Street. Initially Kym was due to be in the top TV soap for just four episodes but her character proved such a hit with viewers she was invited back.

(Image: Johan Persson)

“I never in a million years thought or expected that’s how it would go,” she said. “I’ve been very fortunate as I’ve been given some amazing opportunities and had a lot of people believe in me even if I didn’t necessarily believe in myself.”

Kym is now one of faces of daytime TV as host of the BBC’s Morning Live show which she has appeared on since its launch in 2020 where she has developed a great relationship with co-host Gethin Jones.

“I was very fortunate to be paired with him because he’s a very generous co-presenter,” she said. “ He took me under his wing and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

For all the success, Kym has dealt with some tough personal challenges.

In January, her dad David died following a long battle with prostate cancer.

“My dad was very much the figurehead of the family,” she said. “It’s a huge loss. It’s always very tricky not to have him around.

“For him not to see me play this role makes me very sad because I think he would love it. I just hope he’s with me every night on stage.”

Daughter Emilie is following in Kym’s footsteps and the pair both appeared in Greatest Days.

As for Kym she’s looking at doing some meaty TV drama and more films in future but really, she says, she’s happy to see where life takes her.

“One minute I’m serving chips and beans in the canteen at Waterloo Road and the next thing I’m Cruella wearing pretend giraffe skin. It’s a bizarre life I lead,” she laughed.

101 Dalmatians the Musical is at the Palace Theatre, Manchester until Saturday, August 10. Details from www.atgtickets.com