LESLEY Joseph is one of those lovely ladies who invariably plays an over-the-top character on stage or screen, yet in real life is as down to earth as your best mate.

She talks like a real friend, not some show biz prima donna and so I considered it only right to let her put her shopping down before the conversation got going.

The thought of Lesley with a phone jammed between her ear and shoulder while trying to fill the fridge with pots of yoghurt concerned me somewhat, so the carrier bags were dumped on the kitchen table and everything sorted first.

"Now," she said, rather more at ease. "Shall we begin?"

This latest interview was all about her appearance at Malvern Festival Theatre next week in Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady.

First performed in 1970, the play takes a brutally honest look at alcoholism via the career of nightclub singer Evy Meara, but mixes the downside with plenty of wit and humour, so you can enjoy the evening without the feeling you are being lectured.

"The Gingerbread Lady was one of Neil Simon's personal favourites," said Lesley, and you can see why. The script crackles with his one-liners and we had great fun in rehearsals.

"It is one of his darker plays, but just when you think things are starting to get a bit nasty, up pops a line or a situation to lift the mood. It's very clever."

Lesley take the part of Ms Meara, whose one claim to fame is that she broke the house record in Pittsburg by falling off her seat 17 times in one show.

Sent to dry out, the play picks up the story as she returns home to the "support", if you can call it that, of a rather dubious circle of friends. Only her devoted daughter seems to have her feet on the ground.

While drunks have provided fertile subjects for comedians down the ages, if you have one in the family it's no joke - for anyone.

"I think that's why I like this play so much," said Lesley. "Because it deals with a subject that many people may be familiar with and yet don't really like talking about. But Neil Simon lifts the lid and shows there are ways to tackle it. It is a very funny as well as a quite sad piece."

For her, the chance to get back on stage and move on from her Birds of a Feather character Dorien, is very welcome.

"Of course you are grateful for being part of such a successful show," she added. "But the trouble is people forget you are an actress and think that's the real you.

"They see you in the street and expect you to be like Dorien. But I'm not. At least I hope I'm not!"

Just an ordinary girl who fills her fridge with strawberry yoghurt.

The Gingerbread Lady plays Malvern Festival Theatre from Monday, June 14, to Saturday, June 19. Tickets £12-£20. Box office 01684 892277.