MICHELE GALLAGHER'S acting career is soaring skywards, but at one stage she thought she'd never pluck up the courage to follow her dream.

Right now the Govanhill-born actress is appearing in The Odd Couple, Neil Simon's classic comedy, in Perth Theatre.

Next month she stars as Scotland's most famous flight attendant, Gail Sheridan, in I, Tommy at the King's Theatre.

And while she's appearing in the Tommy Sheridan story, written by Rab C.Nesbitt writer Ian Pattison, Michele will also be in rehearsals for the Tron Theatre panto, Aganeza Scrooge.

However, the 32-year-old reveals that her acting dream almost never got off the ground.

Indeed, if it hadn't been for one fateful holiday in Magaluf, Michele would have gone on to become a school teacher.

"I'd always wanted to act," says Michele, who grew up in Govanhill.

"And as a kid I went along to stage school, and had a great time. Acting was all I ever wanted to do.

"However I never had the confidence or the belief that someone like me could actually become an actress.

"So when I got my Highers I decided I'd take the safe route in life and go on to become a teacher."

But before going to college, Michele set off to Spain on holiday. And met a woman who changed her life.

"I got talking to this lady from Broxburn. I can't actually remember her name, but we got chatting about the future and I told her my plans.

"Somehow, she had this incredible intuition and said to me, 'But teaching is not really what you want to do, is it, Michele?'

"I said 'No', and told her about the acting dream and she said I simply had to pursue it. She'd said I'd regret it for ever if I didn't."

Right there and then Michele changed her plans and decided she had to act.

"I signed up for a National Certificate drama course at Reid Kerr college in Paisley, which was really a step backwards considering I had my Highers.

"When I completed that I applied for the RSAMD in Glasgow, and was accepted. And I'm so glad because this is what I was born to do."

Her parents were supportive of the dramatic change in plans. "My dad, who's a joiner, said he'd always wanted to go to art school, but growing up in the Gorbals he'd never had the choice. He said 'So if that's what you want to do, do it'."

ON LEAVING drama college Michele went on to land a range of TV and stage work, convincing in comedy and drama.

"I appeared in Taggart once and it was said I had one of the best death scenes ever filmed," she says smiling.

"I was crucified on the Clydeside and I loved every minute of it."

She also loved playing Gail Sheridan in I, Tommy, the play which enjoyed a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Festival.

"Gail is a fantastic character to play, but demanding," she admits. "She's a strong woman with great dignity who regardless of what Tommy's done has chosen to stand by her man.

"I think the women in the audience will appreciate her character because she's a natural survivor. And they'll appreciate the journey she's had to go on."

Michele adds: "I haven't met her but I've read every word written about her and watched the YouTube interviews. I'd love to meet her at some point."

Is the play for fans – or detractors – of Tommy Sheridan?

"Tommy's supporters will see the humour in the play," she says. "And Tommy's critics will see the humour in the play. It's for everybody who really loves a laugh."

Michele can't believe her luck at having landed a role in a Neil Simon comedy.

"The writing's brilliant. It's set in the Eighties and it really works as a period piece."

Michele laughs as she adds: "I seem to spend my life in wigs these days. I'm a blonde in The Odd Couple, I'm brunette as Gail and in the Tron Panto I play Frizzy.

"But what's great about the wig in each case is that as soon as you slip it on you also slip right into character."

l The Odd Couple, Perth Theatre until October 13.

The Odd Couple

Perth Theatre

Until October 13

I, Tommy King's Theatre, November 5-10

I knew James McAvoy would be a star ... but if I did fancy him I never let on!

IN Michele's year at RSAMD one student really stood out. Hollywood film star James McAvoy.

"He had such charisma, you could tell he was always going to become a star," recalls Michele.

Did she fancy her student pal? "Well, I had a boyfriend at the time, and his girlfriend was my pal, so even if I did fancy him I would never let on," she says, smiling.

"But he was such a lovely person."