THE joy of acting is all about escapism, according to veteran performer Sue Holderness.

“I have always thought that most actors are reserved,” claims the 59-year-old.

“The pleasure of acting is to be outrageous and get away with it.

“It gives you a licence to get away with what you want.”

In no other show is this view more fitting than the Vagina Monologues, a collection of humorous stories covering taboo topics such as the highs and lows of sex, experiences of giving birth and even the number of names given to the female organ.

The play arrives at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon, on Monday, and Sue is relishing the chance to take to the stage and release her inner self.

“It allows me to bring out bits of my personality that I wouldn’t usually,” exclaims the actress with glee.

“My first monologue is about an older woman who discovers sex at a very late age.

“I also do one where I have to produce 18 orgasms, but I have to say most of them are fake!

“The first time I did it I thought it was too embarrassing for words.”

As a star of both stage and screen for almost 40 years, performing in plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and episodes of Minder and Cold Feet, Sue admits her role in the Vagina Monologues took a bit of getting used to.

“When I was first offered the job I went along to see the show and I thought ‘I can’t do it, I wouldn’t know where to start’,” she says.

“I was a bit out of my comfort zone but when I did do it, I just loved it.”

Sue has forged much of her career playing people who don’t necessarily match her own persona.

Her best known screen role was her performance as Marlene in BBC’s hit comedy show Only Fools and Horses.

“Marlene’s been with me since 1984, and she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” says Sue, in a well spoken English accent.

“I was convinced the role was only going to be one day’s work, but fortunately the writers called me back.

“I just love playing her.”

As the long-suffering wife of second hand car dealer Boycie, viewers can once again hear his famous catch phrase of “Mar-leeeene” and her unforgettable laugh, in the spin-off show the Green, Green Grass.

Yet despite their bittersweet relationship, she says actor John Challis, who plays Boycie, and she get on really well off screen.

“We do get on and we are like an old married couple,” she says.

“If we haven’t seen each other for a few weeks we find ourselves calling one another up to see how we are.

“The best thing of all was getting our own series, and I would still like to be playing Marlene when I’m in my eighties.”

The actress also regularly appears in pantomimes, another arena in which she likes to escape from her own character.

“I prefer being bad to good,” she says with delight.

“I like to be either the wicked witch or the wicked queen, it’s much more fun.

“In four of the five pantos I’ve been in recently I have been wicked, but when I go home I’m really nice.”

Aside from losing herself in many of the roles she plays, Sue says there is a more serious side to the Vagina Monologues, which also tells more poignant tales of women, including some about sexual abuse.

“Some monologues are very entertaining and some are particularly moving,” she states.

“I would never have described myself as a feminist, but I feel very strongly about women’s rights and do worry greatly about the number of women who are in domestic situations they are not comfortable in.

“One of the rewarding things about the show is that a percentage of the money goes towards the wonderful V-Day charity, to help end violence against women in the local area of the theatre you are in, and also internationally.”

Sue insists that the show, which also stars Tameka Empson from BBC comedy 3 Non-Blondes and former Hear’Say singer Suzanne Shaw, is an evening of fun, even for men.

“The men say it’s very informative and have really enjoyed themselves,” she says.

“They think we are going to bully them, but we give them a round of applause just for turning up.”