The fairest of them all

4:56pm Thursday 13th December 2007

Mirror, mirror on the wall, where is the best panto of them all? Well, it could be Epsom Playhouse's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Playing the lead is Carly Hillman - former East-Enders wild child Nicky Di Marco. With the dwarves whistling in the background, we grabbed a few moments with Carly in between rehearsals.

PF: You are quite the panto veteran for your young age.

CH: Yes, this is my eighth year. I do it every year, and always think I won't do another, but I can't help it! My first was Dick Whittington with Bradley Walsh. That year, Joe Pasquale was in the audience and came on stage and told a joke. Then he just sat down again. He obviously couldn't help it!

PF: Have you been Snow White before?

CH: I have always wanted to be Snow White. It is a lovely, traditional pantomime to do.

PF: How have the cast been?

CH: Everyone is getting on really well. We have kids playing the dwarves and they are loads of fun. The trouble is I am only 5"1', more or less the same height as the dwarves, and they wear these big heads, so I'll have to keep my heels on! Andy Pelos (Joey the Jester) is extremely funny, I can see I'm going to have trouble remaining serious.

PF: Hard work, isn't it?

CH: Yes! Some actors dismiss panto but it is the most intense drama and extremely hard work. Sometimes, we have three shows a day but, when you see the kids' faces, you melt. The kids in my family get upset by it all, like when I have been in Cinderella and the Ugly Sisters are horrible to me.

PF: Do you have any time off?

CH: You get Christmas Day off, so I race down the M25 to get home (Hornchurch, Essex). You only get one day off so I normally just want to sleep; we are back on Boxing Day.

PF: Are you in contact with any of the EastEnders crew?

CH: I talk to a few of them, Louise Jameson (Nicky's mum, Rosa) and Leila Birch (sister Teresa). Leila was one of my best friends there, and Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler). I have lost contact with Marc Bannerman (brother Gianni, currently the tabloids' favourite love rat' after his appearance on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here). The Press is really picking on him and I hope it doesn't hurt his career. He was always really lovely and funny, we called him the Gentle Giant.

PF: Would you go back?

CH: It was three years ago now, and I wasn't killed off, so I could return. I had great fun.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue. Dec 14 to Jan 6. Call 01372 742555 or visit epsomplayhouse.co.uk

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