MUSICAL theatre stars normally emerge from the womb waving jazz hands and screaming in perfect pitch.

Not Emma Williams.

She may be currently starring in the touring production of Annie Get Your Gun - which tells the legendary story of Buffalo Bill's Wild West sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her romance with Frank Butler, played by Jason Donovan.

At the age of 18, she stormed the West End playing Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

But the actress, now 31, reveals she was far removed from the Shirley Temple model of the precocious performing child.

"I was a gawky, awkward kid," she saysof life growing up in Halifax in West Yorkshire.

"I was a straight 'A' student and I was a geek. As a result, I was bullied, I had a very small group of friends.

"My parents were aware of this and so they sent me to a local dance school to gain confidence. And incredibly, when I was 11, I discovered I could sing. I really enjoyed this new world and it became my escape from reality."

The experience at dance school also changed the course of Emma's life. All set to go to Herriot Watt University and plan a career as a translator, she took a gap year and during this time was chosento play the role of Kirsty in Steve Coogan's first feature film The Parole Officer.

Herriot Watt was forgotten. Instead, roles in ITV dramas such as Heartbeat and Where the Heart Is followed.

Emma also landed the role of opera singer Tamsin Ford in the movie First Night starring alongside Richard E. Grant and Sarah Brightman.

Now, she's starring as Annie Oakley.

"It was a shock for a lot of people when I didn't go to university, that I took the gap year," she recalls.

"In fact, it took a long time before I made the Wall of Celebration at our school, because that was reserved for kids who went to uni.

"But I later did an Open University degree in English Literature over six years.

"And to be honest, I don't regret not going to uni. It would have been interesting to have met those friends you meet at 18 who stay with you, but I don't know if I would have been suited to uni life. I wouldn't really have enjoyed the drinking culture. That's not really me.

"I look at the experiences I've had so far in life and think things have turned out great.

"I've started to do straight plays and it's thrilling.

"And now at the age of 31 I'm getting to do my first tour."

But what of Annie Oakley? A tough no-nonsense woman who's an amazing shooting talent. And described in theatre blurbs these days as a powerful feminist.

Yet, didn't she let the love of her life Frank Butler win the big shoot out, even though she reckoned she could outgun him?

"It was a patriarchal society so Annie had to learn a degree of modesty," argues Emma.

"She wasn't used to having an effect on anyone. And Frank has to adjust also, to the fact he's in love with such a strong woman."

WOULD Emma back off if she were beating her partner at sport for example?

"I wouldn't back off," she says, quickly, "because you should never apologise for being good at what you do."

She doesn't expand on the personal question instead referencing her stage character. "In the original production, Annie loses the match, Frank wins.

"But in this production, she uses a tampered rifle, choosing not to win, but Frank also deliberately misses so it's a draw. It's a little more feminist, shall we say. It's more even keel."

No, Emma. Annie was still prepared to let her man win. But no matter. Emma loves the role. She loves the business.

"It's not saving lives. I'm not a brain surgeon or a fire fighter. But it's giving joy and escapism for a couple of hours in a theatre. It's still important.

"Yet, while I love this industry I'm aware that when the work slows up I'll go back to working in a bar or temping in an office to pay the bills."

Emma finally made the Wall of Celebration, but did she ever come across the school bullies in later life?

"Oh yes, I did, thanks to Facebook. But you have to remember kids are cruel and we all grow up. You can't carry grudges around. You learn from it, and move on."

That sounds all very balanced?

"Oh, I don't know about that," she says, smiling, "I just know I'm happy to be doing what I do."

n Annie Get Your Gun, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, September 2-6.