Not least perhaps because her co-stars in the new West End show Zorro The Musical are two gorgeous hunks, Matt Rawle and Adam Levy.

"And I get to kiss both. Oh I love my job," she says laughing.

Emma answers the phone with what she calls her "morning voice". "It's always husky first thing. Always has been. It will change completely as the day goes on."

In the background are noises of breakfast being made and a general clattering as Emma moves around her London flat.

The past few days in particular have been exhausting, she reveals, explaining that she has been involved with a number of preview shows for Zorro, which has its official premiere tonight at London's Garrick Theatre.

"The previews give us chance to change things if we need to. We're working on the scenes during the day and then there's a show at night so it's very intensive. Everyone in the cast spends hours with each other – you even have your meals together. But I'm lucky that there's a great family atmosphere. It's a really happy company and it's a joy to work with everyone."

Emma plays the leading role of Luisa and adds that no, she is not starting to have opening night nerves – even though the powerful theatre critics will be sitting in the audience.

"The feedback we have had so far from the preview audiences has been fantastic. We've had standing ovations," she says.

"Obviously you never know how the critics will react and you are aware that they have the power to close you down."

She refers to the sad fate of Gone With The Wind, starring Darius Danesh which closed after 79 performances and, closer to home, Desperately Seeking Susan in which she played the lead role and which closed after just two weeks.

"All fingers are crossed naturally but it really is a great show so we hope people will love it."

Emma, a former pupil of North Halifax Grammar School, left Calderdale to star as the original Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2002 and since then she has enjoyed a number of top roles in theatre, on TV and in concert. But she says there is always something new to learn. And in this case it has been flamenco dancing.

"That has been fantastic but there's not as much of it as I would like," she says.

"It is like nothing I have done before. I've done tap so that has helped but flamenco is something in a class of its own. The dancers we have are phenomenal."

Another joy of the show is the music, she adds – music by the world renowned Gipsy Kings.

"I had done some research on them and realised I knew their well-known hits but I bought some albums to listen to more. I think I had their music on my iPod constantly for about two weeks.

"They came to a preview and it was a real experience to meet them all backstage. It was unreal to be playing their music and there they were right in front of us."

The show is directed by Christopher Renshaw, whose recent Broadway credits include The King and I and We Will Rock You and choreography is by internationally renowned Spanish choreographer and flamenco dancer Rafael Amargo.

The musical is inspired by Isabel Allende's 2005 bestseller Zorro: A Novel – Allender.

Created in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley, Zorro is the secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy caballero and swordsman who defends his people against injustice.

Zorro has appeared in many guises – film, live action, TV and animation and of course in two blockbuster Hollywood movies starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones.

In the new musical Diego is played by Matt Rawle, whose credits include Aspects of Love and Che in Evita.

His adversary Ramon is played by RADA-trained Adam Levy (Angels In America, Troilus and Cressida) and other stars include Lesli Margherita whose stage and screen appearances include Kiss Me Kate, Fame and Charmed.

Emma is now in the middle of an Open University degree in humanities and working with a cast which is half Spanish is coming in very useful, she reveals.

"My next module in September will be Spanish so it's really appropriate to be in this show. I am picking up some really good phrases from the cast – I have learned to swear quite dramatically," she laughs.

• Travel with Courier Holidays to see Emma in Zorro. For a brochure about London theatre

breaks ring 01422 260257 or visit www.courierholidays.co.uk