When small-time showgirl Roxie Hart ends up behind bars, she realises that unless she re-invents herself, she’s facing the hangman.

Cue smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, who transforms her from hopeless jailbird to overnight sensation.

The role of Roxie in slick musical Chicago is one that actresses covet. Hollywood stars Brooke Shields and Rene Zellweger and musical queen Ruthie Henshall are among those who’ve stepped into Roxie’s shoes.

Now Ali Bastian is playing the wannabe star in a UK tour kicking off in Bradford next month.

“It’s all I can wish for as an actress – and I have big shoes to fill,” says Ali, taking a break from rehearsals. “Roxie starts off quite naive and soon learns to think on her feet.

“It’s a great role because she keeps evolving, and there’s scope for comedy, too.”

After shooting her lover dead, Roxie ends up in Cook County Jail. With Billy’s help, she puts on a dazzling turn as a wide-eyed victim and becomes a darling of the Press.

Ali, 29, says the show, based on real criminal cases of the 1920s, carries a cautionary message about fame.

“It’s about manufactured celebrities, which is very relevant today,” she says. “Reality TV creates celebrities and reflects our fascination with other people’s lives.”

She adds: “I was thinking the other day about the Amanda Knox trial. People became obsessed because it was serialised in the papers like a soap opera.”

Ali stars alongside Bernie Nolan, playing prison chief Mama Morton, Stefan Booth as Billy and Tupele Dorgu as Velma Kelly, the Vaudeville star who becomes Roxie’s rival.

Created by musical theatre greats John Kander and Feed Ebb, with a sassy score that includes All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle, Chicago is synonymous with its striking Bob Fosse choreography. Ali was a semi-finalist on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, and went on to perform in dance show Burn The Floor, but says Fosse took some getting used to.

“It’s very specific movements, totally different to what I’m used to,” she says. “Thanks to Strictly, dance is another string to my bow. Doing Burn The Floor was fantastic, too. I was the ‘non-professional’ in a cast of world-class dancers but they were so supportive. I’ve made lifelong friends.”

One friend is Ali’s Strictly partner Brian Fortuna. The pair became romantically involved on the hit TV show and have now split, but remain friends.

“I still love ballroom, and I do classes at (former Strictly professional) Karen Hardy’s studio. It’s nice to do it at my own pace though,” says Ali, who got her break in Hollyoaks, playing a teacher sent to prison for an affair with a pupil, played by Wibsey actor Chris Fountain.

“He was so young but such an instinctive actor,” says Ali. “Starting in soap is great because you do it all. Becca was quite a comic character to begin with then ended up in tears all the time! Soap is a hell of a turnaround, you learn loads.

“When I went to The Bill, (playing PC Sally Armstrong) it was like graduating to Big School.”

Chicago runs at the Alhambra from February 10 to 18. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.