Michelle Ryan excited to sing in West End's Cabaret

Michelle Ryan jumped at the chance to star in new West End musical Cabaret, because she's been taking singing lessons for the last two years.

The former EastEnder has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming production, playing Sally Bowles opposite Will Young's master of ceremonies.

Ryan admits she has always longed to be a musical theatre star, but her career was sidetracked when she began winning acting parts.

She tells the Daily Mail, "It's one of those roles that's like a gift... I wanted to be a musical theatre artist - that's where I saw myself at 15."

But despite taking extensive vocal lessons in preparation for a singing role in upcoming movie The Man Inside, the actress reveals her Cabaret character Sally is not an exceptionally talented vocalist.

She adds, "I had to get my voice up to scratch for the film. I've been working with a voice coach for two years, so you could say that when Cabaret came along I was ready... (But) Sally is quite delusional. She's not the best singer, she's not a performer, but she has this kind of spirit that takes her through it all."

Performances will begin at London's Savoy Theatre in the autumn.