PLAYING the iconic Judy Garland for any actress would be a daunting prospect.

But looking at Lisa Maxwell’s career so far, it’s almost as though it has been leading her up to this very point.

Presenter, serious dramatic actress, even occasional singing competitions on the television has given Lisa the exact skills set she needs to make the part her own.

Telling her this though, unfortunately doesn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.

“Oh it’s a completely mad part,” she laughs. “A proper mountain to climb and totally terryfying but that’s why I wanted to do it.

“When I left Loose Women I wanted to get back into acting and I needed to do something scary.”

And End of the Rainbow is certainly that.

Written by Colchester-born playwright Peter Quilter it has been described as a play with songs, detailing the later years of one of the icons of cinema, Judy Garland.

Set in London in 1968, Judy is on another comeback, battling drugs and alcohol, while conducting an exhausting series of concerts.

Alongside her is her new young fiance, Mickey Deans, played by Sam Attwater, and her devoted pianist Anthony, played by Gary Wilmot.

“It basically contains every aspect of performing,” she continues. “Good truthful acting as well as singing the songs she made famous, all in her unmistakable style, and I must say I’m loving every minute of it.

“I’ve been working with a vocal coach called Stephen Luke Walker, who they call the voice whisperer and he’s been amazing. Lots of crazy continual sound exercises to get my vocal stamina up to scratch.

“And we’ve got a great cast with Gary playing Anthony and Sam as Mickey.”

“In terms of playing Judy after I read the play I thought this could actually be about any woman that has been addicted to drink and drugs. She’s not just this icon. For me it’s not about doing an impression of Judy but if I can encapsulate enough of her I will be very satisfied.”

Rather co-incidently it was musical theatre that first got Lisa interested in the stage when she was younger.

“Oh I’m a stage school girl,” Lisa tells me. “As a child I did plenty of musicals when I was growing up so in a way this is kind of going back to my roots.”

But it was in television that she first hit the big time with a presenting slot on BBC 2 magazine programme, No Limits.

“It was an incredible experience,” she adds. “I got to ride off on a jet ski, free fall out of an aeroplane, all in my 20s. Thinking about, it was all very similar to doing this show.”

Lisa is perhaps best known for her role as Samantha Nixon in the long running television serial The Bill.

“Very often you were working on four to six episodes at the same,” she reveals. “We had to work very quickly and that’s an incredibly good skill to have but the production values were always of the highest calibre. You worked very fast but there was no comprimises whatsoever. Before that I had done mainly comedy sketch shows and so this was my first attempt at serious acting and I really loved it.

“I only intended staying for two years but ended up staying on for eight in the end.”

Only really leaving to spend more time with her daughter.

“That’s when I got the job on Loose Women,” Lisa says. “Working with all my mates and finishing at 1.30pm so I could be back home was a dream.

“I have a lot of fond memories of that show, working with the delightful Linda Bellingham and getting to meet some incredible people like Ringo Starr.

“I remember when he came on and I got muddled up with his wife’s name. I knew it was Barbara but for some reason I called her Catherine but he was so sweet about it, saying ‘yes it’s lovely to be here and yes, I’ve been married to the lovely Catherine’, for however many years, ‘but at home we like to call her Barbara’. I mean a Beatle covering up for me.

“Loose Women really was a wonderful experience but after a while I missed the acting. I actually turned down quite a lot of jobs but now with my daughter all grown up I’ve kind of become a bit redundant in the mum department so I thought why not.

“I am scared about doing it but I’m scared for the right reasons.”

• End of the Rainbow Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester.

Until February 20. 7.30pm and 2.30pm (Thursdays and Saturdays) £25 to £10 plus concessions. 01206 573948.

www.mercurytheatre.co.uk