THE opening scene of smash hit play Mum's The Word features actress and singer Bernie Nolan giving birth. But, says Bernie, people shouldn't be put off. "It is a bit daunting, especially as the audience isn't warmed up yet, but it always gets a lot of laughs. I actually quite like doing the contractions."

Bernie, whose own seven year old daughter Erin was born by emergency Caesarean, shot to fame alongside her five sisters in their band The Nolan Sisters, during the 1970s. They shot to fame singing I'm in the Mood for Dancing.

Roles in theatre and television followed, and now Bernie is starring in the national tour of Mum's The Word, alongside former Eastenders actress Michelle Gayle, Kim Hartman, Rebecca Wheatley and Daniele Coombs.

Mum's The Word was written in 1993 by six Canadian actresses and mothers. After having their children, the friends spent a lot of their time swapping stories about their children - some funny, some sad and they decided to write a play about their experiences. Every actress who stars in the show has to be a mother themselves "Everything that happens in the play is true, and we are all playing characters who exist," Bernie says. "It's one reason why it is such a good show."

Bernie's character Robin struggles to explain to her husband what her days involve, and resorts to writing letters to him in order to communicate.

Bernie's sister, Maureen, made her acting debut in the play, but Bernie says she didn't immediately think she would like to star in it.

"We all went along to support Maureen," she says. "I was asked to be in it, but I was in Brookside, then The Bill, so I always had to say no. But when I had a spare moment, the director grabbed me quickly."

The Nolan sisters are all very close, even more so as their own mother is in the latter stages of Alzheimers. But Bernie doesn't want her own daughter to follow in the footsteps of her mum and aunts.

"I would rather she be a doctor," Bernie laughs. "She does dancing at school and she likes singing, but I'm not going to push her."

Bernie has played a lot of mother' roles, including Diane Murray in Brookside, whose young son Anthony was played by 2006 X Factor runner up Ray Quinn.

Was Bernie proud of her on screen son?

"Oh yes," she says. "I phoned him every day, and told him to make sure he kept his feet on the ground."

Another one of her roles as a mother was Mrs Johnston in the stage musical Blood Brothers.

"It is an amazing role for any actress, and my favourite," Bernie says. "It is such a poignant role, and Blood Brothers has everything - comedy and sadness, and I would love to play it again.

"I think I could do a better job, as I played it between 1998 and 2000, then went on to do more acting, so I feel I could do it more justice now."

Bernie has also starred in The Bill, and reality television show The Games, alongside her Mum's The Word co star Michelle Gayle.

"It is nice to do all kind of things. I do love comedy, and I would love to do a big television drama, and a film, but who wouldn't." Motherhood is somewhat of a blessing for Bernie, who is married to musician Steve Doneathy. Her first child died, then she suffered a miscarriage before having Erin.

"I thought it was going to pass me by," she admits. "But we now have Erin, who is just simply the light of my life. And for me, the glass is always half full, I try and look on the bright side."

Mum's The Word doesn't give a sugar coated version of motherhood, but Bernie says: "At the end, we all say how much we love our kids. It is a hell of a responsibility, and there are bad days, but it is just a joy.

"I think the show works because there is something in all the characters that strikes a chord with people."

Mum's The Word is at the Wycombe Swan from Mon, June 11 until Sat, June 16 at 7.30pm Mon to Thurs, and 6pm and 8.30pm on Fri and Sat. Tickets: 01494 512000.