Mae's On The Way

She's already the world's sexiest and most popular classical violinist. Now vivacious Vanessa Mae is starring in the BBC1 drama Arabian Nights. So is there no end to her talents? Amanda Goff reports...

Her hands are worth a fortune and her sexy pout makes a music lover of every man who sees her. Now violinist Vanessa Mae has a new string to her bow - an acting career.

It's yet another dream come true for Vanessa, 21, who plays a princess in the BBC two-partner, Arabian Nights.

Yet the millionairess had to suffer for her debut... "I was chilled to the bone when we were filming in Turkey," she says. "It was only about five degrees and I was frozen. All I had on was a filmsy white dress and when the camera was on me , I had to grin and bear it."

As if the weather conditions weren't bad enough, Vanessa had to make another sacrifice for her acting debut - her famous mane of glossy black hair.

"Not only did I have to wear this long black wig - but I had to have my hair shaved every day so it all could fit in. I was like 'Oh no, how much wil they take off today'! But they were careful not to go too far."

As for clothes, no one will forget Vanessa in pink hot pants on one of her album covers. But for the TV drama she stuck to something more practical. "On the first day of filming I had to wear this beautiful white dress but the ground was really boggy and I was always scared I'd get it dirty. Apart from that, I felt fine, no nerves."

Not that anyone would expect performance butterflies for the young virtuoso,who has recorded six albums, sold five million records and been hailed by EMI as the "fastest-selling classical musician of all time."

Nerves? Vanessa? Only last June she gave an amazing concert while standing on the bonnet of a Rover 75 parked outside the Tower of London. "Although music will always be my first love, I did find acting pretty excitng," she says. "I didn't have trouble learning my lines. I can concentrate for hours and hours in a concert, so I was hardly going to struggle saying a few words. "However, I was a bit giggly at first and everytime the clapper board came down, I actually rushed onto the set before I was supposed to . Someone would snap it shut, and I'd be so eager to get on, I'd take it as my cue. So I was saying 'No, Vanessa, wait until someone says 3,2,1...THEN go'. But I didn't fluff my lines or anything."

Vanessa stars as Princess Zobeide, who steals the heart of aladdin, played by Jason Scott Lee.

"I was lucky to get such a good part and flattered to be asked," says Vanessa. "It's every little girl's dream to play a princess."

"I remember going to see The Nutcracker with my mum and just being in awe of the whole set-up - the actors, the costumes and make-up - I knew I'd be part of something like that one day."

But, as Vanessa found out, acting can be a lonely job.

"I was only away for six weeks - not as long as the crew, who were on location for six months. But although I'm used to being away from home it was hard being in one place for so long, especially a deserted holiday resort."

But she has a perfect - if pricey - way of coping.

"I'm a phone addict," she reveals. "I call my family, my boyfriends - anyone who's not in this game and can offer me good advice."

"I spent a least 45 minutes a night running up a huge bill - but talking to my loved ones has helped me keep my feet on the ground."

Does Vanessa have a special person to turn to?

"Not really, I have different friends for different things. I use a dog for a cuddle - my mum has just been given a gorgeous doberman called Rudy, after ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyew - and I go to my mum for advice."

"The greatest thing about parents is that they're there for you when you are feeling down."

Born in Singapore in 1978, Vanessa first picked up a violin at the age of four. By 11, she'd turned professional and fours years later, she was the youngest person to record the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos.

But Vanessa insists her life is not all work, work, work.

"I am really busy but I do know how to relx," she says. "There's nothing I love more than being at my home in Kensington, West London, slobbing out in a pair of jeans with a tub of ice-cream. It's the home I grew up in, and I just love hanging around there."

She does admit to having one very strange habit...

"Overwashing - I am totally obsessed with keeping clean. The first thing I do in the morning is rush to the bathroom to wash. I clean myself to death until my skin is dry - then forget to moisturise."

Vanessa's big hates are cruelty to old people and animals - and intrusions on her private life. Two years ago, she was stalked by an obsessed fan who bombarded her home with letters and phones calles. Now she takes precautions.

"I have round-the-clock security," she says. "I have bodyguards and never, ever go anywhere alone. It's sad but that's just the way it is."

Vanessa has been dating 35 year-old Lionel Catelan, son of the mayor of the French ski resort of Val d'Isere.

"Yes, I'm in love and still dating, but I don't want to talk about it. I need space to do what I want to do. I need my independence."

"If there's someone special in you life, you do have to make time for them."

"As for marriage and kids, I can see myself doing that - but not now. The time will come when I will feel naturally ready for those things. You just have to let love take its course. But I don't even want to think about the future now. I just want to have fun!"