BOLTON landlady Rosemary Leach came face to face with her famous thespian namesake - who is currently playing a "boozy floozy" on stage.

The 41-year-old Bolton woman met award-winning actress Rosemary Leach before the curtain went up at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

The meeting was arranged after the less famous Rosemary, who helps run the Finishers Arms on Church Road, Bolton, sent best wishes to the actress and highlighted the similarity between the fictional role and Rosemary's real life Bolton one.

Rosemary explained: "The regulars at the pub thought it was a laugh that this famous actress would be playing a landlady like me.

"I admit that I do wear hoop earrings and short skirts - but I draw the line at leopard skin tight tops! I really wrote to her to wish her good luck with the performance.

"I get plenty of laughs in my job - and I take everything that is said to me with a pinch of salt."

During the day, Rosemary is a systems officer for the Littlewoods Home Shopping Group.

At all other times she is landlady in the pub with her partner, licensee Greg Martin, 30.

Bolton's Rosemary was treated to a VIP seat to see the play, Pastimes, which runs until Sunday.

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