Susie Blake -- better known as Coronation Street's Beverley Unwin -- is back on the stage, where her passion for acting truly lies. JEMMA DOBSON spoke to her about her break from the Street and her plans to travel for charity. . .

SUSIE Blake knows better than most how demanding the showbusiness industry can be. After a 34 year career, she warns the young hopefuls that they must be multi-talented to survive.

She is currently starring in the classic musical High Society, based on the 1950s film, and until last week was playing the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at the Lowry, Salford.

She is also due to return to Corrie in April, so she knows all about playing a diverse range of characters at one time.

She said: "A good actor's dream is to tackle different types of characters, so it helps if you are able to do that. It is also important to be able to sing and dance because if you want to make it you have to be versatile."

The stage is heaven to Susie, who has been performing since the age of eight, when she trained at Elmhurst Ballet School before attending the Arts Educational School and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Having started her professional career at Leeds Playhouse, Susie says the theatre is her first love -- ahead of TV which, she says, can control an actor's life.

She said: "It can be easy to fall into the trap of being in a soap which decides when you work and how long you stay. It is actually quite nice now not to have a long-term contract with Coronation Street because I can do things like go on six-week holidays, which I have never done before."

Susie will soon be jetting off to New Zealand for the charity Habitat For Humanity, which is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide.

Since it was formed in 1976, the charity has built or renovated more than 175,000 houses in 100 countries -- becoming a global leader in addressing the issues of poor living. Susie has been waiting for a time when she could help.

She said: "It is something I have always wanted to do and with a break from TV I can do it. My contract is only for six months so I may go back."

Plans for work in the future are hard to make for an actress and that is what Susie loves about her career.

"You never know what might come up, which is great, and the one thing I would love to have done is Moulin Rouge."

Hey, there's time yet!

High Society is at The Palace Theatre, Manchester, January 17-22. Contact the box office on 0870 401 3000 for details.