Lloyd Webber's new Maria: How my TV dream came true

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The 23-year-old former Surrey schoolgirl will take over as Maria from Connie Fisher in the West End hit musical next month.

She arrives hot from the Channel 4 series Hollyoaks in which her character, Summer Straw, was desperate for a West End break.

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A star is born: Summer Strallen, known to Hollyoaks fans of O.B.'s girlfriend Summer Straw, is the new Maria in the Sound of Music

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who discovered Fisher through a BBC talent show, co-operated with the TV scriptwriters on the storyline.

It will culminate in Strallen also hitting the big time. She will be seen leaving Hollyoaks having been plucked for stardom by Lord Lloyd-Webber, appearing as himself.

Strallen said: ""The Hollyoaks people came to Andrew about it and he thought it would be a good idea to mirror real life on television. It's a new idea, a great concept to bring a different audience to musical theatre."

It also meant she was effectively going for both roles at auditions last year.

Strallen was first spotted by Lord Lloyd-Webber when playing a kitten in Cats as a teenager. She has since appeared in Guys And Dolls with Ewan McGregor and The Drowsy Chaperone, for which she was today shortlisted for an Olivier Award.

The actress comes from a family of performers: her grandmother ran a stage school, her parents were both dancers, her aunt is Bonnie Langford and her older sister Scarlett has just finished playing Mary Poppins in the West End.

"It came naturally to be on stage," said Strallen.

She has watched Fisher as Maria and said: "It's a fantastic role... one of the iconic parts in musical theatre. Any part is nerve-racking when the show rides on you... but it's extremely exciting.

"I'd love to do film ultimately but I would never rule out musicals because I love doing them."

Strallen joins the show at the London Palladium on 26 February. Her official opening night is 3 March.

On-screen: Summer Strallen as Summer Straw with co-star Darren Jeffries (right) in Hollyoaks