Just like the character she is playing, actress Emma Hatton is defying gravity after landing the lead role in West End musical phenomenon Wicked.
Emma, who grew up in Coleford, has been standby for the part of Elphaba for the last 12 months, before finally landing the starring role in the show last week.
"The thing is I knew the part very well having performed as her in more than 100 shows over the year," explained Emma, who is a former Lakers School pupil.
"But the difference now is that I have the chance to make the part my own.
"Of course there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that as it is such a hugely popular musical across the world and the fans are very precious about it."
Emma, 31, came to musical theatre quite late in life. She had already received a degree from Loughborough University for sports science and English when she decided to take a 'gap year'.
"I had always loved performing and musical theatre but had never really perused it professionally," explained Emma, who said her favourite song to perform is 'No Good Deed' calling it a controversial answer as it is not the fan favourite 'Defying Gravity.
"So I decided I would apply to the London School of Musical Theatre for a kind of gap year between my degree and finding a job.
"Incredibly I got in and fortunately after finishing my studies I just sort of fell into a job and I have been performing in shows ever since."
Elphaba is Emma's first leading role having performed as part of the ensemble in We Will Rock You and Dreamboats and Petticoats previously.
She is now performing eight shows a week at the Victoria Apollo Theatre in London taking on one of musical theatre's most iconic roles.
Frozen star Idina Menzel is probably best known for playing the role in the Broadway production of the show and there is also talk of a movie of the show being made with Glee star Leah Michelle playing the role of Elphaba.
Emma is the triple threat – acting, singing and dancing every night on the West End but one of the biggest tasks she has to go through every day with the role is being turned green.
"Our three make-up artists have got it down to a fine art now so it usually only takes about half an hour to get the green base on then the make-up on top of that," explained Emma.
"The bigger task is getting it off. It can be days later and someone will point out that one of my ears is still a little bit green."
But she wouldn't change all the green ears in the world now that she has finally reached her dream.
"I have worked so incredibly hard to get here but now it's finally happened I'm still pinching myself," said Emma.
Lakers School deputy headteacher John Barnard expressed how proud staff at the school were of her achievements.
"We are delighted about Emma's success and hope to see her in school very soon."
