Now, 17 years later, she is living the dream and performing in the same musical in the West End.

She made her debut in the coveted role of Sandy – made famous by Olivia Newton-John 30 years ago.

And she and the cast got a standing ovation at the Picadilly Theatre.

"It's amazing," she said. "I couldn't believe it when they told me I had got the leading part. The cast was being changed and there were lots of jobs going and I had five auditions.
"It was a shock when they wanted me as Sandy. It's every girl's dream."

Nicola sings three solos and three duets and is doing eight shows a week.
She has just finished a year's run in the hit musical Wicked in which she was in the chorus.

I was singing soprano in that," she said, "but in Grease I am using my mid-range. The whole team of Grease are just so lovely and they are a big support network."

Nicola's family were in the audience for her first night and step-grandfather Len Lowther, of Wigton Moor, north Leeds, said: "Nicola's dressing room was full of flowers from wellwishers.

"She is on stage at the start of the show on a balcony – just as she was in Wicked. We heard that the director thinks she is a real find."

Nicola (nee Yeowart) attended Wigton Moor Primary School and then moved to Rossett High School, Harrogate. At 14, she decided on a musical career and transferred to Intake High School, Bramley, to do performing arts.

She was "discovered" by a Harrogate disc jockey, Alan Potter. He found her a manager, Alan Cackett of Kent, who promoted her as a country singer with the name, Niki Dean.

Cackett said at the time: "She's 10 times better than Shania Twaine."

Nicola made an album, Cross the Battleline, did a one-woman show at Leeds Civic Theatre in 2000, appeared on a bill with Rory Bremner and toured as support act to country legend Don Williams.

But her country career stalled and she went back to basics as a dance and drama student at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Last week she appeared on Good Morning on GMTVand has recently done a photo shoot for Hello magazine as one of four leading West End ladies.

"I never really thought about making it big," she said. "I just wanted to do something I enjoyed. I have got a year in Grease and I would like to audition for the musical Legally Blonde which is currently on Broadway.

"I would also like to record another album as I love modern country music."