Brian Beacom `

THERE’S an assumption on meeting Jorge Porter that the former Hollyoaks star is part of the fame-seeking generation.

After all, Jorgie’s extra famousness came about working with the lads mags.

In taking the time honoured path of dressing up (down), in the sort of outfits designed to send the nation’s young men direct to their bedrooms, Jorgie was once voted 50th Sexiest Woman In The World.)

Then there have been the reality shows, such as Dancing On Ice in 2012 which she followed up with I’m A Celebrity.

All of which begs the question; is she a flibbertigibbet fame seeker or a serious acting contender?

The perfectly made up face and the false eyelashes are a little concerning when she arrives for Friday afternoon tea and cake.

But the Manchester-born performer reveals she’s doing a TV appearance straight after, hence the industrial slap.

The 30-year-old, (she looks 18) is in Glasgow to promote her upcoming tour with Fame: The Musical. How apposite is the storyline to Porter; would she, like the kids of the American high school, do anything for fame?

“Well, I’m really looking forward to appearing in the show,” she says of her role as dancer Iris Kelly. “But as for fame? Well, I’ve never really felt that was what it was about.

“You see, I’ve been dancing since I was three. The life for me then was all about acting, singing and dancing.”

Jorgie reflects for a moment. “In fact, I never planned to go into Hollyoaks at all. Aged 20, I went along for the audition never thinking I would get it, and I’d soon go back to dancing.

“If I had a plan it was to work on a cruise ship.”

She adds, grinning; “I used to apply and say I was five feet six. It was a total lie. I’m five two. And I’d turn up and all the girls would have long legs and look like models. I never did make it onto a cruise ship.”

Jorgie was offered a three-month contract on Hollyoaks, playing a 15 year-old Lolita in the form of Theresa McQueen.

But the actress proved a massive hit with the fans and before she knew it eight years had gone. Is there a sense she grew up on the programme?

“Yes, I had gone through the awkward puberty stage but then at 20 I my life was about filming and playing a teenager, which is a sort of weird place to be,” she says, grinning.

“I’d be walking around town and kids would playfully hit me in the arm and I’d be saying ‘Hey, I’m a 23 year-old woman. You can’t do that!’ I’d grown out of Chinese burns by that time.

“Meantime, you’re going out dating, yet you’re in the spotlight. That was a little strange.”

She learned that fame can bite. “I can’t find a guy,” she says, with a wry smile, noting the look of incredulity coming right back at her.

“You have in the back of your mind ‘Do they like me - or do they need me.’ At my age I thought I’d be married. But no. You find yourself dating a guy for a while and they suddenly announce they’re going to apply for Love Island. You think ‘What?’”

She adds; “I went on First Dates once and I had one date with a guy and suddenly he was telling people (ie, selling the story) I was his girlfriend.

“And there’s the men’s sense of expectation that’s hard to match up to. Guys have seen me on Hollyoaks as the teen temptress and seen pics of me in the lingerie shots - and then they see what I look like when I wake up with no make-up on and look like a goof ball.”

It’s hard to imagine this Barbie Doll in human form looking anything other than picture perfect. But the fact she certainly doesn’t see herself as such is endearing.

“I can’t even wear tights,” she proclaims in her Coronation Street accent. “They keep on falling down.”

Jorgie grew up in Stretford, Manchester. “In a not very nice bit.”

Times were tough but her mother managed to pay for her daughter to attend dance classes.

Her dad was never part of the family. “I’ve never known anything different,” she says with a shrug. “My grandma grew up with us, and my uncle was the only father-figure.”

Has she never got in touch with her father? “My mum has always said I could if I want to.”

Has he tried to get in touch? Does he know who she is? “Yes, he definitely knows, but I guess he doesn’t want to know me.”

That’s sad. “Yes, and it’s sad for him.” She smiles; “Damn, I’m really funny.

“But you know, it would be very awkward. How can you meet someone and expect to connect with them, just because they’re your dad?”

She offers a masking smile; “Oh, it could be so weird. And you know, being on my own has made me what I am.”

Porter speaks affectionately about school days, in spite of the fact she reveals she was a stranger to most of her teachers.

“I loved going to school, but I did PE for every lesson. I’d say to the likes of my Maths teacher, ‘I’ll stay in school. But I’m only going to do PE.’ Then no matter what class or year was doing PE I would join in. I wasn’t academic at all.”

Does she regret that now?

“A little bit. I’m 30 years old and I can’t do my times tables. I did a quiz show on TV and I regret it because it suggested I’m stupid.”

She’s certainly not stupid. (She now features in her own calendars).

And she clearly has a mind that wants to be challenged.

She even went to acting classes in LA, but came back because of family illness.

This, you can tell, is a very grounded lady. She works tirelessly for cancer charities. And she reveals why she left Hollyoaks; fame was getting in the way.

“The family’ you worked with move on but the new people coming in seemed to be caught up in the idea of fame,” she says, in reflective voice.

“It all felt so different.”

Now, she’s appearing in her dream job. She gets to play a ballerina.

Jorgie adds; “I really want to do more theatre. I want to come out of the box I’ve been in. Perhaps I could do a serious play.”

Regrets on her career so far?

“Yes, eating cockroaches in the jungle, and shouting ‘I love the penis!’ on live television. (Referring to kangaroo penis).

She laughs; “My mum said ‘Why did you have to say that?’”

Does she have any regrets about doing the lads mags?

“No, not at all,” she says in tougher voice. “You see, when I did the pics I became another character. That female you see with all that make-up on and stockings is not me.

“But the best bit about those pics was I managed to buy my mum a new car with the money I got.” She grins; “That’s empowerment.”

• Fame: The King’s Theatre, Glasgow, July 30 – August 4.