Leading lady: West End musical career comes full circle for local girl Role is 'the one that she wants' FORMER Caerleon comprehensive pupil Caroline Sheen started her West End career in the musical Grease, and now she has returned to the hit show in a leading role.

Caroline is playing wholesome Sandy Dumbrowski in the musical about teenage love and hopes in 1950s America.

In 1997 the former National Youth Theatre of Wales star made her professional debut as Marty in the same show, before going on to appear in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia! and other top crowd-pullers.

She said: "This is the biggest role I've had yet. I've got the most songs to sing and I get the final bow."

Caroline, 26, grew up in Caerlon and now lives in London. Her famous cousin is actor Michael Sheen, 33.

Caroline got the Grease part even though she was on holiday in Australia during auditions.

Producers arranged for her to have a videotaped audition in Sydney, and the results were flown to London for assessment.

She said: "I even had to cut a bit of my hair off in case I got the part and they had to make a wig."

The musical first hit Broadway in 1972 and was immortalised by the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, which became the highest-grossing musical movie ever.

She said: "It's set in a nice era. In the American 50s everything seems a bit more glamorous.

"The school doesn't remind me of my time in Caerleon Comprehensive, but, like Sandy, I was quite bookish and did my work. Unfortunately there were no dishy gentlemen chasing me.

"She's a wholesome and honest girl in a school where everyone is trying to be something they are not. That's why the other lead role, Danny, falls in love with her. "I think things were easier in my school because we wore uniforms and there wasn't the pressure to wear up to date things."

The production is running at the Victoria Palace Theatre until March 2003. "I enjoy acting more than singing and dancing, but my biggest ambition is to sing at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff."