Ahead of its arrival in Kent, she chatted to Kathryn Tye about her big break, her audition for BBC talent show The Voice, and her newest role – being a mum.

It is a showbiz fantasy. The anonymous chorus girl rises to fame by stepping in to save the day after the star falls ill.

But that fairy tale actually came true for Kerry Ellis.

Making her West End debut as the second understudy for EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon in My Fair Lady, the 21-year-old ended up playing the lead role after illness forced both Martine and the first understudy to drop out.

Now aged 34, she admits it was an incredible way to kick off her West End career. “It was crazy. Martine got poorly, then the first understudy got ill. I got the call four hours before the show and rushed to the theatre and ran through the scenes. I didn’t have time to feel anything. It was an incredible experience.”

Since then, Kerry has capitalised on her early success, originating the role of Meat in We Will Rock You and becoming the first British actress to play Elphaba in both the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked.

She has also starred in some of the West End’s most famous shows, playing Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables and Nancy in Oliver!

Her latest role is in a 20th anniversary concert production of Rent, Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians living in New York at the end of the 20th century under the shadow of AIDS.

Kerry plays erotic dancer Mimi Márquez and says she jumped at the chance to get involved.

She says: “It’s got a good story, good songs and it’s a bit rocky, which is right up my street. We first took it on tour in April last year and although it is called a concert production, it’s pretty much the whole show. We have the set, the costumes, the dance.

“I remember Rent first being premiered in London in the 1990s, and I think the reason there is still such demand for the show, is that the issues it deals with are still relevant today.”

Her character’s love interest in the show, Roger, is played by Rory Taylor, the runner-up in 2012 ITV musical theatre contest Superstar. Kerry is also a veteran of the TV talent show, after entering BBC’s The Voice in 2012.

Her rendition of Son of a Preacher Man failed to impress the judges, with none selecting her to be in their group, but she remains positive about the experience.

She says: “These reality shows have been on for 10 years now and are very much part of our industry. So when I got the opportunity to be on the show, I took it.

“I audition for a living, that’s what I do. The only difference is that this was on TV. But as a performer, you have to keep putting yourself in different situations.

“The funniest thing was that I ended up sat next to one of the judges, Tom Jones, a couple of months later at a charity event where I was performing. I didn’t dare say anything!”

Indeed, despite her success, Kerry remains very down-to-earth about the world of showbusiness.

She says: “From a young age I always knew I would perform, I just didn’t know how it would pan out. I really have been fortunate and being called the ‘First Lady’ of the West End is wonderful, but I don’t think about it too much. It is a real privilege to do what I do, but I just take each job as it comes. It still makes me giggle when I see a poster of myself on the Tube!”

And her pragmatic approach has been reinforced by the recent arrival of her first child, Alfie, born in October.

Kerry says: “He will be coming out on the road with me.”

Life with Brian

One of the major influences on Kerry’s career has been Queen’s Brian May.

She has been collaborating with the veteran rocker for the past 12 years since he was impressed by her performance in My Fair Lady.

“After a show, Brian asked me to audition for We Will Rock You, and then he offered to work with me in the studio,” said Kerry.

“It was crazy, but he heard something in my voice that he liked.”

Brian produced her first two albums Wicked in Rock (2008) and Anthems (2010), and they collaborated on last year’s Acoustic by Candlelight. The pair have also undertaken many live performances together and will be touring again later this year.

Kerry said: “I have massive respect for Brian. We get on well although we couldn’t be more different. Maybe that’s what works!”

Rent will be at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre on Monday, February 10. It starts at 7.30pm, with tickets from £20. Box office 01322 220000.