Denise Van Outen turned on the razzle dazzle last night when she made her debut in the irresistible West End musical Chicago.
If initially a little nervous, she looked and sounded authentic enough as the adulterous and murderous Roxie Hart, who will do anything to get on in showbusiness.
She even had the presence of mind to adlib her way out of a spot of bother in the courtroom scene when her jacket, which should have been removed in one swift movement, stuck irritatingly on her wrists.
Last night's debut marked a re-invention of herself at the age of 26 by the former Big Breakfast presenter - and quintessential Essex girl - that plainly delighted the audience packing the Adelphi Theatre.
They gave her and her experienced American co-star Leigh Zimmerman - who was in the original Broadway revival of the show - a rousing reception when they took their curtain calls together at the close.
"It is good to get the first one over," said a relieved Miss Van Outen in her dressing-room afterwards, as she prepared to celebrate.
"It was quite scary at first," she said, adding: "Wow. I am used to cameras but not to performing in front of people like this.
"And you feel to be in a bit of a bubble, trying to concentrate on what you are doing and not really aware of the audience." She admitted to feeling pretty tired after a show that comes as a taxing climax to four strenuous weeks of rehearsal.
"I have lost a lot of weight with all this dancing, but hopefully I will start to get a bit of muscle there," she added, patting her slim legs.
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Though she did train for five years at the Sylvia Young Theatre School as a teenager, she hasn't danced seriously for 10 years.
However, the audience seemed to be impressed. "She has clearly got what it takes," said London teacher Dawn Ash-worth. "She seemed a bit underpowered at times, perhaps because of nerves, but I thor-oughly enjoyed the show."
Carolina Fascetto, from Argentina, approved too. "She did it very well," she said, "and I had no idea it was her first time." There was more praise from accountant Jane Riley. " She was raunchy and she could be the innocent, too," she said.
"She didn't quite have the brash confidence that goes with the part, but I am sure that it will come."
Now Miss Van Outen has another couple of weeks in which to perfect her performance before she faces the critics.
