THE mother of a North-East actress has told how she has been deluged with calls since her daughter stepped into a starring role in Britain's favourite soap.

Joanne Rowden, from Middleton-St-George, near Darlington, County Durham, plays Paula Shipley, the new love interest for the recently-widowed Gary Mallett in Coronation Street.

Since her first appearance last month, Joanne's family have been contacted by a stream of old friends delighted by her new success.

But despite being watched by millions of devoted fans three times a week, Joanne, 29, has her feet firmly on the ground, her mother June last night told The Northern Echo.

Retired civil servant Mrs Rowden, 56, said: "Joanne is just Joanne. Sometimes when she does accents she doesn't sound like her, but she's still the same.

"Two of her former teachers from Egglescliffe School at Stockton went to see her in a production in Sunderland recently, and they said it was just the same Joanne they had always known, ready with a hug and a kiss for them."

But being in one of Britain's favourite soaps means lots of attention for all the family. Her father, George, was asked at the beginning of a business meeting: "Isn't that your daughter in Coronation Street?"

"Lots of people have been ringing us, people we haven't seen for years, after seeing Joanne on television. It's lovely. We get such a lot of joy from it because Joanne is bringing so much joy to so many people."

Joanne's parents, who still live in Middleton-St-George, try to see as much of her work as possible.

She became interested in acting after singing and dancing lessons taken as a child, and became involved in youth theatre and drama. Her first major role as a teenager was in an amateur production of Grease. She played Sandy, the lead role. Joanne, who also studied music, was hooked.

After leaving Middlesex University with a degree in performing arts, she got her first job in Elvis the musical.

June said: "She's been in many musicals throughout the country, and we've been to see her in everything and travelled throughout the country.

"She also performs with the Abba tribute group Bjorn Again." At the age of 25, she also landed a role in the short-lived North-East soap Quayside.

Joanne is one of three children. Her elder brother Paul works in the computer industry, while younger sister Zoe is following in her footsteps into the show business world.

June said: "Although Joanne may be getting better known, all three of them are equally important to us. We try to encourage them in all they do.