WEEKS of rehearsals, workshops and training and hours of make-up have transformed Emma Tunmore into a cat.

More specifically, the West End star has been transformed into Bombalurina in Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenally successful musical Cats.

"I did Cats in London about four years ago so I leapt at the chance to do it again," said Tunmore, (main pic and inset). "It was the perfect time for me."

And the irony is, the actress admits she prefers canine companions.

"I am a dog person, but now I know cats are the next best thing."

As well as songs like Memory, which has had 53,000 radio plays in the UK and earned more than $2m in the USA, the musical is famous for its elaborate costume and make-up.

"My make-up takes about an hour," she said.

"For an evening show I start getting ready at 5pm and by 6pm I'm ready for make-

up.

"Some people can do it in less than an hour, which is a mystery to me."

But when the show has a matinee, Tunmore has to stay looking like a cat all day.

"One time my mum came to visit backstage after a show in London after a matinee," she said.

"I had tracksuit bottoms but I had to keep the cat head on. So I spent the day half cat, half human."

Currently appearing in Manchester, after four weeks in Plymouth, the show is a departure from Tunmore's London home.

"I've been in London for eight years and this is the first time I have really toured," she said.

"It's good to get out of London, especially at the moment with all the tension about the war."

In the show, adapted from TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Tunmore plays Bombalurina, one of the older Jellicle Cats who meet up for the Jellicle Ball.

"In the workshops we have decided the three main words that describe her are motherly, voluptuous and frank," said the actress.

"She is quite a sexy character but very affectionate and warm, but she's nobody's fool.

"Cats is a very physical show and it takes a lot of concentration to perform and stay in the character of a cat.

"The lyrics are pretty much as TS Eliot wrote them, and they are very witty, clever and very insightful.

"But also you have the kids who are singing along and see it as something fun and cool."

n Cats runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday, April 8, to 26, at 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tickets from £8.50 to £32.50 from the box office on 01902 429212.

By David Lewins