Third Age: Linda Martin loves being a pantomime star

THE panto season is here once again, and Eurovision winner Linda Martin is loving it.

Now starring in her fourth production, she can’t wait to put on the grease-paint, put on her “evil” costume and take to the stage next Wednesday for opening night.

“I adore it,’’ says Linda. “I don’t know where the year goes between each production, it just flies by. But I love to see the children’s faces, their excitement. This year I am the evil mother, which is great because you get such good audience reaction, they will hiss and they will boo. It builds up such a good atmosphere in the theatre, which I really enjoy.’’

Linda, 66, is appearing alongside Jedward in Beauty and the Beast at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.

She says she loves working with the boys, describing them as “good friends’’ and totally professional.

“They are like younger brothers to me, I have been working with them for more than five years. It is a joy working with them — I really do love them,’’ she says.

Linda credits being part of her “panto family” for keeping her fit and healthy. They all look after each other, make sure everyone is eating properly, despite the long hours, and if somebody catches any bugs, they all will more than likely get it.

“I love being part of the production team, I love working with them all. The youngest is probably three and the oldest is me. But there is an energy level that we all feed off. Even if you are having a bad day, you just put the smile on and go on and give a performance.’’

Looking back over her 44-year career, Linda says the highlight will always be winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992 with the song ‘Why Me?’.

“It is a gift that keeps on giving,’’ she says. “I know the Eurovision isn’t as big here as it used to be. But in Europe it is still very important. I was working in Germany last weekend, and the difference in their reactions, the bookings the venues, makes it a completely different ball game. They just love Eurovision and embrace it.

“Twenty years on from winning, I am still working, still touring but, apart from the panto and a few TV shows with RTÉ, it is strictly in Europe.’’

Did she ever consider a different career path?

“I would have always loved to have been a Las Vegas showgirl,’’ she says, laughing.

“I know in America it can be seen in derogatory terms, ‘Oh, she is only a showgirl’, but I just love dancing, I love their costumes and all the sparkle. And if not a showgirl, then a dancer with the Foiles Bergère, in Paris doing the can-can. It would have been simply brilliant.’’

Linda is not phased by touring around Europe, she is blessed with a huge amount of energy and a strong work ethic, which she credits to her parents.

“My father raised us so that none of us would get anything unless we worked for it. We did things around the house, we worked hard at school and we were rewarded. It was never just handed to you for the sake of. I also have a low boredom threshold, so I have to be doing something,’’ she says.

Christmas this year, will again, be dominated by the panto, but Linda, who lives with partner Ronan, doesn’t mind. She will only have two days off and will probably “collapse’’ and then eat something vegetarian&.

“I love working, I love my life. My family comes first, then show business and my animals. It all works very well together.’’

* Beauty and The Beast runs from Wed Dec 18 to Sun Jan 5, at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin. Tickets: 0818 719 330.