By Maureen Coleman.

Former Eastenders star Jessie Wallace is looking forward to her first ever visit to Belfast this weekend.

The 37-year-old actress, who played tart-with-a-heart Kat Slater in the BBC1 soap, will be in the city to take part in Eve Ensler's much talked about production The Vagina Monologues, which runs at the Grand Opera House from Monday, June 22 to Saturday, June 27.

And she reckons she's going to get on well with the Northern Irish audiences, as she says she has a special connection with Belfast.

"My boyfriend Tommy's family comes from Belfast, but I've never been before, isn't that disgraceful?" she said. "But I'm really looking forward to coming to Belfast with The Vagina Monologues. I think the Belfast audiences will respond well to it. The thing is, I love the Irish sense of humour, it just cracks me up."

Jessie said she had participated in the Vagina Monologues several times but had taken time off to spend with her young daughter Tallulah and to concentrate on other projects. But once the chance to visit Belfast came up, Jessie jumped at the chance.

She'll be joined on stage by Dancing on Ice star Suzanne Shaw and comedienne Jenny Eclair.

Of course, it won't be Suzanne's debut trip to Belfast. The former Hear'say singer made the headlines when she got together with love rat Darren Day while they both starred in Summer Holidays at the Grand Opera House several years ago. The couple later split when he dumped her for another girl.

Meanwhile Jessie, who is getting ready to star in a new stage production called Stepping Out, will also be taking part in the Run Her race in Belfast this week. "I've been working out with a personal trainer and am down to a size eight now. I've never felt better," she said.