This much I know: Katherine Jenkins

I never set out to be famous. I just wanted to sing.

I still don’t think I will ever get used to the whole media interest thing around my career, or to people coming up to me when I’m out and about shopping and so on, and recognising me. I wanted to be an opera singer — not necessarily a household name — and I was not seeking attention or to be famous.

I knew I wanted to sing since I was four but I never thought it would really happen. I thought if I could get a job in the classical world it would be a dream come true.

I was outgoing enough as a child but I did have a shyness. I was also very responsible — I worked hard in school which I enjoyed. I was a bit of swot actually. My parents tried to instil the importance of having a back up-plan and the value of education.

The biggest challenge in my life so far was losing my dad when I was fifteen. You can let something like that be a negative in life, or you can use it as something to drive you forward. I am very much inspired by his memory. It’s a shame to me that he never got to see my success.

I don’t know if there is an afterlife, or what form it might take. I know my father is with me somehow and he is guiding me and he is looking out for me. Although I’m not sure from where.

I graduated from The Royal Academy of Music and started teaching singing. I thought that was what I was going to do, and then, I got a record deal.

Fate is a mixture of luck and hard work. You do have to be in the right place at the right time. In my case it was fate that I met the record company when I did, but it came after years of hard work.

I still have to be very disciplined — no alcohol, spicy foods or dairy and not much speaking during the day when I’m doing concerts.

I’m health conscious — fitness and well-being is very important in order to feel strong. I did my first marathon, London, recently — in five hours twenty six minutes. I need to be healthy for my work to go well. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, do a fair bit of exercise and drink plenty of water.

My idea of misery would to be on any type of celebrity TV show — where you have to eat insects and that type of thing — no thank you!

The best advice I ever received is that it is never crowded on the extra mile. And basically, you get out of things what you put into them.

My worst trait is perfectionism, wanting things to be just so.

I’d advise anyone who wants a career in music to get as much experience as you can, whenever you can — surround yourself with music, join every choir, take part in every single local amateur production, show and competition that you can.

I’m at my happiest either on stage or having a completely chilled out day like yesterday — when we had a family barbecue.

My best beauty tip is to leave Jojoba oil in your hair over night. It makes it very smooth and silky. And, discover Clarisonic — a good little machine for cleansing the skin.

Ms Jenkins will join The City of Cork Symphony Orchestra on December 11 and 12 in expected sell-out concerts at Cork City Hall which will be compèred by Miriam O’Callaghan and Elmarie Mawe. The concerts are sponsored by Deloitte and Jaguar. Tickets are priced at €65 (balcony)/€55 (front parterre)/€45 (back) and are available on ticketmaster.ie or at Promusica, Oliver Plunkett St, Cork.