Many may remember Fem Belling as one of the sassy cats in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats a few years back. After touring with the company internationally, she recently returned from three years in London.
"I wanted to spread my boundaries further than Benoni," says the chatty Fem, who has gone from blonde to black, a quite startling transformation with her deep blue eyes.
She's back for the moment to reprise the role of Donna which she also performed in the UK premiere of Debbie Does Dallas, and fresh from the West End, where she was part of the Footloose cast.
"I was the comic relief," says Fem, and it's not surprising because she has personality splashed across her forehead. She describes Debbie Does Dallas as a sitcom on stage. "It's a giggle!"
Her decision to go to London was driven by a romance with a Brit, but that is no more, and Fem says settling into a new country was tough. But what has been thrilling is the fact that local talent can hold their own.
"We're world-class," she says and she's had the chance to check out the stars while there. Yet what is impressive, is the opportunities available.
With two new musical theatres in Gauteng in the not too distant future, musical theatre will expand locally, but we're not the international destination that a London or New York is and that limits our entertainment potential.
Before Fem left London she was performing solo with both her violin and voice on show. "It's lovely to be able to say I was doing well," she says.
Yet at the beginning, there were weeks when she wasn't too sure. It's tough starting from the bottom for a second time, yet Fem has a determination and grit that has pulled her through difficult times.
But for now, this bundle of energy is delighted to be back. The first things she bought were Fanta Grape and Jelly Tots.
"One pays a fortune to buy them in London at a specialised shop that imports these products," she says.
Any advice for newcomers to the game? "Don't give up," says Fem. "It's one of the most magical jobs in the world. I can get lost in it."