Naked but proud, we speak to three of our favourite actresses Lynda Bellingham, Michelle Collins and Ruth Madoc about nudity, making it big, and Reality TV as they prepare to bring the stage version of Calendar Girls – the fastest selling tour ever and a triumph in the West End – to Oxford.

* LYNDA BELLINGHAM: Actress Lynda Bellingham is not only taking her clothes off in the stage version of Calendar Girls at the New Theatre, but son Lawrence is also starring in the play based on the award winning film about, of all things, the Women’s Institute.

So is Lynda worried about revealing all in front of her son? “I’ve already told him that seeing his mother naked is going to send him straight into therapy,” she laughs.

“It would be very different if Michael were playing Hamlet and I was Gertrude. But I think my son is very well cast.”

But cast aside, despite her longevity, Lynda argues that its the true-story angle that makes Calendar Girls such a success. “It’s about cancer which most of us have experienced either personally or within our family or friends, and the audience is largely made up of human beings who are historically ignored, us over-fifties.

“I also believe, that this country needs to regain a sense of its self-worth and Calendar Girls celebrates both heart and a community spirit – two classic British virtues.”

And although Lynda gives her part her all on stage, she has her fingers in other pies. She’s one of the regular pundits on ITV’s Loose Women, she’s written her autobiography Lost and Found and last year she strutted her stuff on Strictly Come Dancing.

“I’m the elder statesman of Loose Women – I’ve done the smoking and the drinking to prove it,” jokes Lynda. “I love doing the live shows: it’s scary but you connect with people. It’s not Question Time but I honestly believe that we make a difference.”

* RUTH MADOC: It comes as something of a surprise to discover that the outwardly very Welsh Ruth Madoc was actually born on the other side of the country in distant Norwich. But, in response, Ruth tartly observes that “like my second cousin, Lloyd George, who also wasn’t born in Wales, I consider myself to be Welsh.” Which maybe why she was chosen to play Maria: “She’s a bit of an Aunt Sally figure who’s there to be knocked down,” says Ruth. “And she’s something of a Hyacinth ‘Boo-kay’ as well, the arch-snob from Keeping Up Appearances. Marie takes the WI very seriously and she wants everything to be done properly in the traditional way.”

As for the rest of the cast, Ruth is clearly enjoying being part of such a formidable company: “It’s such a strong cast and the ladies are such strong characters in real life that the whole experience is great fun.”

Ruth’s career didn’t flourish until her late 30s.

“I was about 39 when Gladys in Hi-De-Hi came along, which is a funny old age for a woman, but I firmly believe that it was meant to happen at that time. And the success of the series and of the character opened doors to me that otherwise might have remained shut.”

More recently, Little Britain, in which she played the mother of Dafydd ‘the only gay in the village’, restored Ruth to the public eye.

* MICHELLE COLLINS: It may be more than 10 years since Cindy Beale cast her brooding presence over Albert Square, but although Michelle Collins has played many other parts on both stage and screen since, her career is still overshadowed by her 11-year performance in EastEnders.

“You can’t really get away from it,” Michelle remarks. “I’m always there, embedded in people’s psyche. Soaps are very good at creating these strong female types and Cindy was unpredictable, feisty, passionate and emotional.”

Now established as a leading figure in TV drama, Michelle has a CV most actresses would die for. “I feel much more in control of my life these days,” she says, with a hint of relief. “While I was in EastEnders, I was public property 24/7 and people found it hard to accept me as somebody else. “ For her part as Cora in Calendar Girls, she has been learning the piano which she’s “finding quite terrifying”.

“But I do like a challenge,” Michelle smiles.

Calendar Girls, starring Lynda Bellingham with Debbie Chazen, Michelle Collins, Brenda Gilhooley, Jan Harvey, Ruth Madoc and June Watson runs at the New Theatre in George Street from Monday until Saturday. For tickets call the box office on 0844 847 1585