Brum is ideal for making movies! Theatre.

Byline: Lorne Jackson

FOR a brief moment my stomach lurches, as I conclude that I'm in the wrong place.

It's Birmingham's Rep Theatre, alright. But where's the Midland megastar, here to be awarded a prime spot on the Broad Street Walk Of Stars? The slight figure bounding on stage certainly doesn't resemble a shimmer of silver-screen stardust.

Unless it's Ebene z e r Sc rooge, pluc k e d f r o m appea r ing in the new Disney version of A Christmas Carol.

Not that Julie Walters has the face of a Dickensianmiser.

It's just that, like Ebenezer, she appears to Laughs: Julie in Mamma be wearing jim-jams. Further scrutiny reveals it's Julie's saggy, baggy day-wear. At least there's no sleeping cap.

Julie may not be as glam as a conventional leading lady.

But when it comes to wowing the locals, the star of Educating Rita, Billy Elliot, Calender Girls and Mamma Mia has more bubble and fizz than an Alka-Seltzer plopped in an alcopop. During a Q and A session, the Smethwick-born performer proves to be as lovable as many of her most famous characters.

"No one could take me to where my star is going to be," she sighed. "There's roadworks round there. Here's hoping my star doesn't end-up plummeting into the sewers."

Walters Mia. When I talked to her af terwards, she couldn't hide her enthusiasm for the Midlands. Especially when informed that there was a possibility that the famous Pinewood movie studio could be relocating to Birmingham, taking over the MG Rover plant at Longbridge.

"Really?" she said. "That would be amazing. I'm all for that, and I'd certainly try and work here as much as possible, if it happens. Why not have a film studio in Birmingham? It's a great location.

"And it would be fantastic for local jobs. Brummie people are so funny and down to earth, as well. Which would compensate for all those showbizy egos swanking into town."

Julie would love to work more often in Birmingham, but the 59-year-old admits she doesn't get the chance to visit her old stamping ground as much as she would like.

"I only really get up to the city once a year," she said. "There's always a family get-together at Christmas. Everything has changed so much in Birmingham, especially where my star is on Broad Street.

"It used to be run down and scary round there. Now I can't recognise the place. All those restaurants... plus a star forme! It's great to be a part of all that change and regeneration, even if itmeans that people will now be able to walk all over me."

CAPTION(S):

Laughs: Julie Walters in Mamma Mia. Birmingham's treasure: Actress JulieWalters collecting her star on Birmingham's Walk of Stars.