BOLTON'S Maxine Peake is an actress at the top of her profession, playing Ophelia on stage opposite one of the country's leading actors.

But, she says, that, along with her impressive track record working with some of the country's foremost theatre companies, means nothing when she returns home to Horwich.

She explained: "I find when I am doing theatre work people I know back home come to me and say 'are you still acting?'

"I'll say 'yes, I am currently appearing with the National Theatre', and the reaction is 'oh well, never mind'.

"So perhaps, after appearing in Hamlet I will look at getting back on television, so people will know what I am up to."

Maxine, aged 28, is Ophelia to Little Hulton-born Christopher Eccleston's Hamlet at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

It is the second time she has starred opposite Eccleston on stage, appearing in Miss Julie in the West End.

This high profile production marks both actors' first professional Shakespearian appearance on stage.

Maxine said: "It is the first time I have ever done Shakespeare and it is really daunting.

"It is very scary, but the back-up team here is very good. There is a voice coach and movement people.

"It also helps that there are quite a few of us who have not done Shakespeare on stage before.

"Chris Eccleston is fantastic to act opposite. When I found out he was doing this production I desperately wanted an audition. I was over the moon to get the part. Chris is such an easy actor to work with. He is very generous, always looking out for ways to help you improve."

This is the latest high profile role in Maxine's increasingly impressive CV.

She came to national prominence sparkling in the role of the 'intellectually challenged' Twinkle in Victoria Wood's BBC comedy, Dinner Ladies.

She has also made appearances in Clocking Off, The Way We Live Now, Holby City, Jonathan Creek, Sun Burn, Linda Green and most recently Dalziel and Pascoe, among others. Theatre credits have included appearances for the Royal National Theatre, The Royal Court Theatre, and in Bolton Octagon's production, Early One Morning.

However, Maxine picks out the last time she played opposite Eccleston, in Miss Julie, as a highlight of her career.

The former Westhoughton High School pupil explained: "It was working with Chris -- and being in the West End. I remember at the time thinking 'this is what it is all about'."

Despite this, Maxine says she has never stopped to consider how well her career is going. She said: "You never really stop and think you are doing that well. I look at others from my year at drama school and think 'wow, look at them!'.

"I am happy as long as I am earning money and paying my rent.

"I am based in London, but whenever I am not working I am straight on that train. In fact I have just spent six weeks back in Horwich, and moved straight to this job.

"After, I will be going back to London, and the thought frightens me a little."

In pursuing her career, Maxine has had to endure several blows.

She joined the youth theatre at the Octagon when she was 13, but did not stay long: "I was not very good. I was older than the others and did not have a clue. I thought, 'oh no, I am not good enough'. It was fun but I did not think I was up to it."

From there she joined the youth theatre at the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

However, she "hated" a two year performing arts course she then did at Salford College of Technology. She studied A Level Theatre Studies and Performing Arts and eventually got onto the course at RADA.

From there, Dinner Ladies followed. Maxine said: " I was always pushed into comedy at college because I was big, blonde and northern.

"Serious stuff always used to frighten me to death. I used to find it difficult to be taken seriously. But now, I have done quite a bit of serious stuff and perhaps it would be nice to go back to comedy.

"The trouble is when you have worked with Victoria Wood it is very difficult to find another comedy to do -- she is a hard act to follow.

"The downs I have suffered have been the rejections you get for the jobs you really want. But I am at the point now that where it used to take me two weeks to get over not getting a part, it now takes me half an hour.

"I am doing stuff I never imagined I would be doing in the theatre.

"My advice to any aspiring actors in Bolton would be to stick at it and keep your confidence. People along the way told me I wasn't good enough, but I wanted to do it.

"A lot of people who really do not know give you a lot of negative stuff. Criticism is always fine, when it is constructive, and I do listen to what people say. But equally I am very thick skinned, and have had to be.

"Basically, it is all about knowing what you want to do.

"My ambition is to do a really good drama series on TV. It would be nice to get a part in a gritty northern drama. I suppose I am like most actresses -- but a stonking female role would be really good."

And what about the future?

"It is a case of let's wait and see. I get a job, but then panic always sets in when it finishes."

Hamlet runs from Friday, October 25 to November 30. For tickets telephone 0113 213 7700.