ONE of the most iconic female roles of all time both on screen and on stage was played by a former Priestley College student – having temporarily stepped in for Love Island’s Amber Davies.

Paige Fenlon stepped into the heeled boots of Julia Roberts as she starred as the lead role of Vivian Ward in the theatre production of Pretty Woman at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The former Priestley pupil ‘lit up the stage’ with her talent and charisma in a role made famous by Roberts in the 1990 rom-com.

Speaking after her debut in the leading role, Paige paid tribute to her college tutors for their contribution to what is now becoming a flourishing career on stage.

“Priestley helped me to find my voice,” she said. “I got some strong techniques from my teachers who helped me find the way I act best and truly helped me understand the meaning of performing.”

Her former teachers, Abbie Rippon, Nancy Serjeant and Sarah Graham, had the privilege of watching her performance and were said to be ‘blown away’ by her ability to embody the character.

Abbie Ribbon said: “Paige was simply superb as Vivian. It was really thrilling to see her take on such an iconic role, and to see her absolutely smash it.”

Paige was asked to lead the production after former Love Island star Amber Davies remained as a contestant in the ITV show ‘Dancing on Ice’ and so was unavailable for the show.

One reviewer praised her for ‘making the role her own’ and providing a ‘more quirky and wholesome’ Vivian.

After previously being the stand-in for the part during its run on the West End in 2020, she described returning to the part as a ‘full circle moment’.

“In the last two years, I have grown a lot and gained lots of advice, so coming back to the role has been really nice,” she said.

Paige, a former pupil at St Peter & Paul Catholic High School, studied musical theatre, dance, and drama at Priestley College.

She progressed to one of the UK’s leading theatre schools Bird College in London before securing work on the West End stage.

Her advice to aspiring performers in Warrington was to work hard.

“You need to put in the effort and time in all three disciplines,” said Paige.

“Work outside your education, bettering your techniques. Knowledge is power and the more you know the better you will be.”