Stefanie to Appear in Pack of Lies

West End dream for local actress

A talented Co Derry girl who has rubbed shoulders with some of television's best known characters has landed a dream part in a West End show.

But Magherafelt-born Emma Kearney got her first taste of the business when she worked for a local TV station in Derry.

The 27-year-old lived and studied performance in Manchester and since graduating she has appeared in top soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Now she has landed a dream role in one of the West End's more controversial shows which will be touring the UK this year.

A Pack of Lies, which is based on a true story, centres around a London family and their neighbours during the 1950s and 1960s.

"It will be my first West End job", says Emma, "I'm really excited.

"The audition came out of the blue and it took two months before I found out I got the job. I couldn't believe it. It happened really fast. I had to be in London five days later to start rehearsals and it's going great."

Emma plays a woman called Thelma in the play, which first opened in the West End in 1983 starring Judi Dench and Michael Williams as the Jacksons.

"The play was controversial when it first came out," said Emma, "It is a true story about Russian spies living in London and how they were found out. My character works for MI5.

"It is a brilliant job. My first big London theatre job. The director is an amazing man and the cast are lovely. We will be touring for eight weeks all over Britain. Then we'll go to the West End."

The play, which is a Bill Kenwright production, stars Jenny Seagrove and Stefanie Powers and will tour Britain for the next eight weeks.