THE tale of the humble orange seller who won the heart of a king is one of the great true stories from British history.

It was no surprise therefore that the life of Nell Gwynn was turned into an award-winning theatre show, premiering at the Globe in London before heading into the West End.

Now the English Touring Theatre is to take Nell Gwynn on a national tour for the first time, beginning in Manchester next week.

Laura Pitt-Pulford will play Nell and she admits it’s a dream role.

“It’s such a brilliant story and she’s such a vivacious character,” she said. “She was such a very real person and she was such a strong woman.”

Nell Gwynn rose from humble beginnings to become the most famous actress of her day and subsequently the mistress of Charles II.

“She was one of the first women to appear on stage,” said Laura. “In those days the theatre was very different and it was traditionally men who had played the female role. Suddenly they had real women on stage and they really didn’t know how to react to them or write for them.

“It’s an argument that’s still on-going as we still haven’t got enough female roles but luckily I’m playing one now, I’m really fortunate.”

Written by Jessica Swale, Nell Gwynn is a relatively new play having premiered in 2015. But Laura hadn’t seen the play before she went for the audition.

“When I heard they were going to tour the play, I knew that it was something I really wanted to do,” she said. “There’s nothing better than getting the chance to play a strong woman.

“When I went to the audition I said I was sorry but I hadn’t seen the show.

“The director Christopher Luscombe said he was pleased I hadn’t because he wanted me to play my own version of Nell Gwynn.”

At the Globe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw was nominated for best actress award when she played Nell and Gemma Arterton took over when the show transferred into the West End.

“I’d love to have seen both of them in the role,” said Laura, “but no matter what happens, we are always going to be different Nells. It’s such a brilliantly written role, it allows you to bring part of yourself to it.”

Laura has spent some time researching Nell and life in Seventeenth Century London in general.

“I have researched into what was happening at the time and the world she was living in,” said Laura. “But as far as Nell goes, none of it is exact fact. No-one knows for sure where she was born or about her father.

“All you can do is get a flavour of who she was and build your own Nell from that.”

But scant though the facts may be, Laura feels she has got to know Nell Gwynn very well.

“I always say Nell is the person you’d want to be best mates with,” she said.

“She’d stand up for you but she’d also tell you how it is. She’s very blunt but she’d always have your back. She’d make you laugh and have a good drink with you and there would probably be a few uncomfortable situations along the way.

“With this production you go on the journey with her. You do see an ugly side to her at times but then she’s a real person. I feel quite strongly that we shouldn’t see her as this wonderful, kind spirited person. Inside she’s a good person but she’s also very human and very real.”

Nell Gwynn will tour the country before ending the run back at the Globe Theatre.

“That’s such an exciting bonus for us all,” said Laura. “It’s going to be a very demanding but hugely enjoyable tour. “

Nell Gwynn, the Lowry, Salford Quays, Wednesday, March 1 to Saturday, March 4. Details from 0843 208 6000