‘YOU can’t put the parts beside each other,” says musical veteran Marti Webb, of her diverse career.

Since she rose to prominence as Ann, in the original London production of Half a Sixpence, opposite Tommy Steele, the performer has had her pick of roles including Evita, Grisabella in Cats and Blood Brothers’ Mrs Johnstone.

“I’ve played such different roles. I’ve been very lucky to have that variety, not just to be always cast as the girlfriend or whatever. I have enjoyed them all equally.”

From tonight, she is appearing as Aunt Eller in Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at the Liverpool Empire.

“I’ve never done it before, but I have enjoyed seeing it,” reveals the 65-year-old actress.

“It’s a fabulous musical. I love all the singing, the dancing, the great story, everything about it.

“We’ve got a great young cast and they’re all very talented.”

Although Webb started dancing at the age of four, it wasn’t until she enrolled at Aida Foster Stage School that she started seriously considering musicals as a career.

“I’d always sung and danced, it was just something that you did and I didn’t think anything of it,” she explains, “but when I got to stage school I realised how disciplined you had to be.”

Half a Sixpence followed her West End debut, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off.