SHE'S been on national tours of the country.

She's a panto veteran who can fill theatres for a season. And her stage plays are almost always sell-outs.

Next year she's set to appear in a new play by top writer David Greig.

But this week, Elaine C. Smith is appearing in a basement theatre in the west end of Glasgow, pretending to be a woman washed out to sea in a floating chip shop, who thinks she's Billy Connolly.

Elaine stars in Saint One, at Oran Mor, in what will undoubtedly be a sell-out week.

"I've had a real bad blow to the head and I wake up thinking I'm Billy," says Elaine smiling, of her character, Geraldine.

"It's almost as if I'm possessed. And everything that comes out of Geraldine's mouth is from An Audience With Billy Connolly."

The play, written by Lesley Hart, is about battered fish and battered lives, a search for some kind of meaning, for memories lost.

It also features Walter (Ewan Donald) who's a journalist. What we discover about Walter is he's working for the Stonehaven Courier. But he's embittered.

Walter once worked for a national broadsheet. And just before the flood he was sent by his editor to cover the Stonehaven Comb and Paper competition.

However, that episode proves to be his professional undoing.

"And he's also diabetic," says Elaine.

"And he goes into the chippy to fill up on carbs, even though he's allergic to potatoes, or as the wee Aberdonian lassie in the play (Helen MacKay) who also plays the banjo, describes him as 'Diabetic - and tattie intolerant - nae luck.'"

Elaine adds: "There's a lovely twist in all of this, again involving Billy Connolly, and the play is also incredibly moving.

"But I don't want to spoil the surprise by giving the storyline away."

Quite right. Let the audience take it all in on the day.

Elaine says she couldn't not do the play.

"I read it and thought 'Oh my, God!' It was such a challenge, having to play a character who becomes Billy Connolly in her own head.

"And it was a mountain I felt I had to climb.

"But the other factor is I love Oran Mor. Where else do you get a chance to see such a range of plays?

"It's a fantastic venue, with a great audience. Why wouldn't I want to appear there?"

Elaine rarely stops working. Most recently, she's been filming the latest Rab C.Nesbitt special, to be transmitted in the run up to Christmas.

"The writing is fantastic," she says of the latest adventure. "It was great getting back to it."

At the end of the year, Elaine is set to return to panto in His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, where she'll star alongside her Nesbitt co-star Barbara Rafferty, with Elaine as the Fairy Godmother and Barbara the Wicked Stepmother.

And next year, Elaine will continue to tour Scotland's seaside towns with her one-woman show - which is being filmed for STV.

For the moment however, she's enjoying the chance to become Billy.

Elaine agrees Saint One is something of a tribute piece to the comedy legend.

And there's an element of zeitgeist about it, given that it's being staged at the time of the comedian's illness being revealed. There's a sense Scotland has finally awoken to the depth of his talent.

"That's true," says the actress, smiling. "If anything, the play underline what an incredible figure Billy has been throughout his career."

She adds, in mock horror; "But if he came to see the play and saw me impersonating him I'd be truly mortified."

l Saint One is part of the Play, Pie and a Pint series, Oran Mor, Byres Road, 08444 771000. Mon-Sat 1pm £8-£12.50