Acclaimed Irish soprano Celine Byrne says that she decided to pursue a career in opera as she knew she'd "never make it as a popstar".
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, the self-deprecating and unstoppably chatty singer said her love of the stage and performing started at a very early age, "where I started singing with a hairbrush".
"I knew I’d never make it as a popstar", she said with a smile. "Unfortunately it’s still happening we’re inundated with these images of how the beautiful girl should look - skinny, perfect makeup, perfect hair.
"I was never one of those, I was a country girl, in wellingtons, so I knew I’d never be Britney Spears. So I wanted to be on stage but I knew pop wasn’t for me, so then I moved into the world of musical theatre."
Joining the Naas Musical Society ignited her love of the stage. While working as an au pair in Italy after that, Byrne discovered her true calling when she saw her first opera. She returned home to begin her classical voice training, kick-starting a distinguished career which has seen tour all over the world performing.
The Kildare singer will soon be starring as Mother Abbess in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre's production of The Sound of Music this Christmas, and Byrne says she feels she has "come full circle" from her beginnings in musical theatre.
The musical has always had a place in her heart. A few years back Byrne went to a Sound of Music singalong in the Gaiety Theatre in full costume. She joked that being cast in the role of Mother Abbess is like "life imitating art".
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Byrne is looking forward to entertaining audiences in the musical, but her excitement about being part of the production is also linked to another element - the proximity to home and her family during the festive season - something that isn't always achievable with her continent-hopping schedule.
"Of course I’m excited to be part of the production, but I’m actually delighted to be at home for Christmas," she said. "It’s not a gift every year that I’m home for Christmas, two years ago I was in Berlin and Santa Claus had to come to a hotel and leave presents under the tree but this year I’m at home for Christmas because I’m doing my gala on the 15th and then a couple of days later I begin the run of The Sound of Music."
Her family are looking forward to seeing her perform, but she jokes that her children are "more looking forward to the fact that I’m getting to stay in Dublin for a while, that they can come up and go shopping and stay with me."
The down-to-earth singer has had myriad successes in her career, from touring around the world and singing in front of luminaries such as Pope Francis and former US President Barack Obama, to performing alongside legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
However, the singer says that although she feels "blessed to be so busy" in her career, her measure of success doesn't come solely from her work.
"My measure of success is the fact that I’m doing something that I love, I’m getting work, I have a great family, they’re all healthy and the key to success is the level of happiness that you want to attain, and I’m at that so I’m really happy."
And it looks like her career won't be slowing down any time soon.
"I have contracts now until 2020 so I’m delighted. At least I know in 2020 I’ll know I’ll still be able to pay my mortgage so it’s all good!", she laughed.
Byrne takes to the stage in The Sound of Music at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from December 19 to January 6. For more information click here.
She will also be taking to the stage at the Bord Gáis on December 15 for Celine Byrne's Christmas Celebration, a show which will contain favourites from the world of opera as well as Christmas classics.
Tickets are on sale for both The Sound of Music and Celine Byrne's Christmas Celebration from Ticketmaster and usual outlets.
