The mother (superior) of all roles!

The annual Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium generally makes a fun few hours viewing for the audience and us folk at home.

So far as we’re aware, it doesn’t usually inspire or give one of the “turns” a lightbulb moment.

Last year’s show did just that for Gavin And Stacey creator and actress Ruth Jones. She donned a sister’s habit – her character Nessa dressed as a nun, no less – to perform with the cast of smash hit musical Sister Act and found herself experiencing something of an epiphany. She wanted to be part of the production in a more permanent capacity.

Someone heard her prayers, because this month – following in the sandal-steps of Jennifer Saunders, Whoopi Goldberg and Sheila Hancock – Ruth dons the wimple to play Mother Superior on the West End stage in a new production of Sister Act at the Dominion Theatre.

“I must admit, it wasn’t something that I had thought I would do,” she says.

“But from the first rehearsal I did for the Royal Variety I heard them sing Raise Your Voice and got goosebumps. I think that live theatre at the moment is so valuable and so special and gives people that sense of connection – especially something like Sister Act, which is so full of joy, so magical.”

With events in the outside world being anything but joyful right now, Ruth feels a sprinkling of magic is just what’s required.

“I think we need more of that – and I like to be part of that. I find it with my novel writing, too. I find it very hard to write anything that’s dark.

“There are plenty of better writers than me that can write about that. But, for me, I don’t want to write about it, because there’s enough horribleness going on in the world.

“I think this opportunity I’ve been given has actually made me pledge to do more theatre, because it really is such a gift. All I want to do is give people something to uplift them. And if I can continue to do that, I will be a very happy woman. It’s a crackin’ role and a crackin’ show. Who knew wearing a habit could feel so fabulous? I’m proper chuffed.”

While we don’t immediately associate Ruth with a musical, she appeared in musical theatre productions at school and at drama school.

And who can forget her and her Gavin and Stacey castmate Rob Brydon’s