Maureen Nolan seems to have her professional head sorted these days.

The halcyon times of the Nolan Sisters are in their place in the scrapbook, memories of appearing around the globe and singing with Sinatra, consigned to history.

At this moment in time, career is all about appearing in eighties musical Footloose.

What’s interesting about the Nolan role, the part of minister’s wife Vi Moore, is it’s not an especially big one.

But that is in itself an attraction.

“I was lined up to appear in Blood Brothers, the role of Mrs Johnstone, thinking this was fairly short term,” she says, from her home in Blackpool.

“And now this show has been extended until October. And it’s nice to see the show get so much success. Plus, I’ve got a couple of good songs to sing.

“But Mrs Johnstone was so draining to play and really, it’s nice not to be drained.”

Does she enjoy being a pious, religious woman in Footloose, half of the couple who see song and dance as sinful? Does it sit well?

“No, not really,” she says, grinning.

“I’m not very pious or religious. And the whole idea of the Deep South view of women who have to stay at home and cook doesn’t sit too well with me either.

“And she is the back-up for her husband. Which again doesn’t sit well.”

Maureen adds; “Maybe people have the impression the Nolans were really homely, but that’s not the case. Our lives certainly haven’t been men-dependent.

“And we’re not the good-Catholic religious people thought we were.”

No, Maureen. The spray-on lyrca trousers hinted at so much more.

Yet, the performer is honest enough to admit she would rather work less these days however.

“Yes, we’d all love not to have a mortgage and I’d like to be at home more but for us it didn’t happen.

The Nolans, she reveals, were ‘massively ripped off’ along the way, receiving only a tiny fraction of their overall earnings.

“But you can’t dwell on it,” she says. “If you did you would become bitter and twisted.

“And I have to say we were all fairly happy then and we’re happy now.

“Although the record company and management claim they did spend a lot on us. But did they spend that match?”

Indeed. How much does spray-on trousers and nice tops cost? Can’t be that much?

“Not that much,” says the singer, laughing. “But the trousers did the job at the time.

“I had a load in the wardrobe for a long time, but then they went to the charity shops.”

Maureen certainly didn’t surrender after the Nolans decided to stop making the world feel like dancing.

She reinvented herself as a theatre performer, going on to star in musicals such as Blood Brothers.

She’s been working consistently in musical theatre. And Maureen won’t get much chance to stay at home this year.

No sooner will Footloose end, she’s set to star in the musical Great Expectations in Blackpool.

It’s a great role, playing Miss Havisham, Dickens’ character who has checked out of the Hotel Reality and become a recluse.

“I won’t have to be made up for the role,” says Maureen, laughing.

“I can play the haggard old bag with the mad hair a lot easier now than I can play glamourous.”

It’s hard to think of Maureen Nolan as less than glamourous, always the best looking Nolan, the schoolboy’s favourite poster girl.

“You should see me right now,” she says, grinning.

“You wouldn’t be thinking I looked glamourous at all.”

Maureen usually works in panto at the end of the year.

“I was thinking about panto, but I didn’t want to do it this year. And I didn’t like the idea of driving myself to the venue every night, a two hour drive.

“So I thought if Footloose ran ‘till Christmas, that would have been ideal.

“But then Great Expectations came in with the offer, and it’s all worked out well.”

She adds; “There is talk of Footloose going abroad. But then I may have the chance to go back into Blood Brothers. So it’s quite a wonderful dilemma to have.”

It is, in an era when there aren’t a huge amount of roles for women.

“That’s certainly the case,” she says.

“But I love Christmas. If it weren’t for the money I’d take time off at Christmas. Now I have three granddaughters so it’s great for me to be at home with them.”

The Nolans still try to get together as often as they can. The family are still close.

“Colleen lives in Cheshire and we get together when we get the opportunity. Anne and Denise will come to see me in Torquay when we play there. And I try to see the grandkids as much as I can.”

The loss of Bernie, who passed away three years ago after suffering from cancer, focused the minds.

“It put everything in perspective,” says Maureen.

“I had always realised family was everything but it really underlined that feeling.

“You have to grab life, and stop moaning. When I feel down I think ‘What would Bernie have given to have this time?’ She was a real character.”

The daughter in Footloose reminds Maureen of her little sister.

“She’s the wild woman. Bernie was wild. And boy do we miss her.”

“Would Maureen turn the clock back if she could on her career.

“Only when I look in the mirror,” she says, grinning.

“Overall I’ve had a great time. We did have a sheltered upbringing in our teens. But basically it’s been a great life.”

• Footloose, the King’s Theatre, until Saturday.