THE resum of actress Alison Newman describes her hair as "ash blonde" - a fact which would confuse fans of her most famous role, that of Hazel Bailey in ITV's massively successful Footballers' Wives.

The role of the poker-red-haired chain-smoking, tough-talking agent was created especially for Bournemouth native Alison, after its producers had noticed her considerable talents when she played a three-episode memorable stint in Bad Girls.

She is definitely my own favourite character from the show, so I'm quite excited to hear her husky voice ask for me on the phone.

"I was so flattered so see the way they've built and developed the character," she begins modestly. "The whole concept of Hazel as a character is that she's a creature who lives in bars and restaurants - you never see her house. We kind of wanted her to be vampiric, that whole kind of pale, stressed life.

"I would love to give up smoking but, while I'm doing the series, I can't even think about it. I get through so many during filming but hopefully I will knock it on the head at the end of it all.

"My boyfriend thinks I'm unrecognisable which is such a compliment. He had never seen me on TV so I showed him a few snippets of the show - but it wasn't like 'You can't go out with me unless you've watched my entire body of work'!"

What's it like to be a part of such a successful show and to have to deal with the fame that goes along with it?

"To be honest, I don't have to deal with that much. I don't hang out in the Met Bar and I keep myself to myself. I just like doing my job. But I've put myself on the TV - it was my choice. That's why I don't think people should complain.

"I get recognised a lot on the street though but I get a very good reaction. People tend to be fond of the series and Hazel is such a likeable villain - she's bright and a very independent woman. I've had a lot of mail from young people saying how thrilled they are that she defended the young black footballer in the third series.

"She does have some ethics and would fight for someone who is being kicked when they're down - but she can also do the kicking. I admire her ability to get what she wants. I think she'd be a great person to have a night out with!

"The most liberating thing is I really enjoyed performing but I loved seeing the reaction from the broadsheets. What is liberating is being in a show which appeals to so many people. Every job carries a risk but, with this, if you fail, you fail publicly."

Beginning her career as a spirit in The Tempest at the Royal Exchange theatre, Manchester, Alison went on to appear in the Royal Court and with the Royal Shakespeare Company before going into films and television, appearing with Pete Postlethwaite in The Butterfly Collectors.

Did she have any concerns about moving away from the stage?

"I think in some way I'm quite lucky because I've been able to balance the two. After series two of Footballers' Wives, I went straight into a play at the Royal Court. As an actor, I wanted to do it all and it is all different sides of the same medium. Funnily, my character in Butterfly was a very nice person, but after that, the next job I got was playing a serial killer. But I've had great fun playing baddies.

"It's great to do as much as possible and I don't think one excludes the other but one is definitely better paid! Most actors would agree that you need to do TV in order to do the theatre work. It's a necessary thing. It's also difficult to have a plan in this career because so much is down to luck and what comes to you."

And, of course, it has given her the opportunity to perform in The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, which she began last year.

New Yorker Ensler asked more than 200 women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to share their most intimate secrets in "vagina interviews". She focused on such normally taboo topics as birth, sex and relationships - with some truly revelatory results.

An absolute powerhouse theatrical success which has seen almost every famous woman you think of take part, from Calista Flockhart through Kate Winslet to Jerry Hall, its most recent cast members on tour have included Kerry McFadden, Anneka Rice and Christine Hamilton.

The show also has a very special relationship with charities working to assist women and girls who have been victims of violence or abuse. Three per cent of the net box office income from the week is donated to two or three local women's charities and currently this production has donated in excess of £150,000 to charity.

It has been a sell-out at the Haymarket, where Alison will perform alongside Hannah Waterman, who recently took a fatal tumble as Laura Beale in EastEnders.

"The show is not about sex, or being gay, or being feminist," Alison maintains. "It's just three women up on stage telling others' stories. It's not salacious or smutty and there's nothing there to shock or titillate - it's such a warm piece.

"You would be amazed at the reaction to the production. One of my favourite shows was in Newcastle where an old couple sat in the front row and they held hands and laughed the whole way through.

"For every woman in the audience there will be a story, something - a chord that will be struck."

The Vagina Monologues will run at the Haymarket from this Thursday until Saturday. For more details, call the box office on 01256 465566.