WATERLOO Road star Georgie Glen makes her RSNO debut this month in a Christmas classic.

The Helensburgh-born actress, who has also appeared on the big screen in Les Miserables, Mrs Brown and My Week with Marilyn, will narrate Raymond Briggs' famous tale The Snowman as part of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra's festive concerts.

Georgie, who played history teacher Audrey McFall in the BBC One show Waterloo Road, has also appeared regularly in Heartbeat, Little Britain and The Thick of It.

The 59-year-old, who has twin daughters, Holly and Eleanor, is also well known for her roles in 2006 film Amazing Grace and the 2011 series The Royal Bodyguard.

She is one of Scotland's hardest-working actresses, having starred alongside everyone from Dame Judi Dench and Hugh Jackman to Helen Mirren and Gwyneth Paltrow.

But she claims she prefers being 'in the background' rather than taking on a leading role.

"I've never enjoyed playing leading parts," she said in an interview in the Evening Times's sister newspaper The Herald.

"I just don't have the confidence to play a leading role. I think I have a place in the profession and that place is in a supporting role. But I like supporting and I think I'm good at that."

Georgie studied graphic design at Glasgow School of Art before moving down to London in her mid-twenties to work for a book publisher, designing covers."

In the evenings, she auditioned for a local drama group where she met Alan Rickman, who watched her perform and encouraged her to apply for a place at drama school.

"Sometimes I think the universe takes control of our lives," Georgie told the Herald.

"And this was one example. Alan said to me 'Write off to drama school. Tomorrow.' And I did."

Georgie was accepted into Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, where her contemporaries included Mark Strong and Jeremy Northam and her first 'proper' acting job was at Wolsley Repertory Theatre in Ipswich.

She was delighted to be back on home turf when she landed the job at Waterloo Road, the school-based drama filmed in Greenock, just across the water from the town she grew up in.

The RSNO will be performing its popular seasonal shows (sponsored by the RSNO’s Transport Partner ScotRail) at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on December 19.

Led by conductor Christopher Bell, the Orchestra will perform Howard Blake’s iconic soundtrack synchronised with the screening of the animated film, with vocal soloists for the famous ballad Walking in the Air drawn from the RSNO’s own Junior Chorus.

The concerts also feature well-known festive musical favourites, audience participation, the RSNO Chorus and Junior Chorus, and a few surprises.

Georgie said: “It is my distinct pleasure to be performing with Scotland’s national orchestra this Christmas. The Snowman is such a wonderful tale, and to narrate the story along with the animation and full symphonic support is something I’ll treasure."

The RSNO's Christmas tour includes dates at The Music Hall, Aberdeen (Thursday December 17, 7.30pm); the Caird Hall, Dundee (Friday December 18, 7.30pm); and the Usher Hall, Edinburgh (Sunday December 20, 3pm).

The RSNO kicks off its new season at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 3pm on January 3 with a matinee performance of Handel’s Messiah, conducted by Matthew Halls.

Matthew will be joined on stage by soprano Ailish Tynan, counter-tenor Iestyn Davies, tenor James Gilchrist, bass-baritone Matthew Brook and the RSNO Chorus .

The RSNO’s Viennese Gala with conductor Jean-Claude Picard and soprano Ailish Tynan present Viennese Gala at Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline (Friday January 8, 7.30pm); the Buccleuch Centre, Langholm (Saturday January 9, 7.30pm); Reid Hall, Forfar (Sunday January 10, 7.30pm), Eden Court, Inverness (Wednesday January 13, 7.30pm) and at Albert Halls, Stirling (Thursday January 14, 7.30pm).

For more information go to www.rsno.org.uk.