FORMER Emmerdale star Lisa Riley will bare her soul for a charity close to her heart next month when she brings her own play to her home turf.

The Tottington girl stars in The Naked Truth, a play written by Emmerdale writer Dave Simpson with his former muse in mind.

The play explores the lives of a group of women who become friends at a pole dancing class.

While it is largely comic, it also deals with serious issues such as infidelity and cancer.

It is therefore appropriate that Lisa (31) has persuaded producers to bring the play to Bury for two charity performances inspired by the care both Lisa's mother, Cath, and grandmother, Pat, received when they were suffering from cancer.

Half of the proceeds from both shows will be donated to Bury Hospice.

Lisa said: "My mum had breast cancer and my nan died from cancer so Bury Hospice is very close to my heart.

"My mum is doing really well now - hers is a very positive story - and when my gran was dying, the staff at the hospice were fantastic.

"The work the woman do there breaks my heart. They offer massages and reflexology, and when you're undergoing chemotherapy that can give you a real boost. They do their utmost to make both patients and relatives as comfortable as possible."

Lisa went to Holly Mount RC Primary School in Greenmount and later St Gabriel's High School.

She began acting with the Oldham Theatre Workshop at the age of nine.

She spoke to the Bury Times as she was on her way to rehearsals at the Met after filming her contribution for a documentary being made to coincide with the 5,000th episode of Emmerdale.

Lisa played Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap for six years, leaving in 2001.

Since then she has worked on a wide range of projects for both stage and screen, from You've Been Framed and Fat Friends to the Vagina Monologues and now The Naked Truth.

"I've not stopped since I left Emmerdale. I'm still very ambitious," she said.

Lisa says she jumped at the chance to play amateur pole dancer Bev in The Naked Truth.

She said: "The character is amazing. She's a real joy to play - like Mandy was.

"I've really created the character myself because it was written for me. Dave Simpson is an amazing writer and I worked with him on Emmerdale so he knows my strengths. It was very flattering when I was sent the script because I was actually asked to choose which of three parts I would like to play.

"This one jumped out at me and it turned out that Dave wanted me for that role.

"The script made me laugh out loud. There are things that are funny and make you smile when you read them but it's very rare that something you read makes you laugh out loud. It's that funny!

"I can't give away what happens but there is quite a journey for this character, with quite a surprise at the end.

"I love doing theatre because every night is different and you get to go to places where you'd never normally go."

But home is clearly where the heart is for Lisa, who abandoned London to move back to Tottington following an accident.

"I came home because I wanted my mum!" she said.

"I had an accident and broke my leg and I couldn't do anything. I came back home to visit and suddenly realised how much I loved Bury.

"In London, walking down the street with crutches and a bag, there is no way anyone would help me.

"But walking through the Mill Gate centre in Bury, people would say: Aw, Lisa! Y'alright love? Let me give you a hand'."

The Naked Truth also stars Coronation Street's Jayne Tunnicliffe (Yana Lumb) and Samantha Seager (Jodie Morton).

The play is at the Met, Market Street, Bury, on Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1. Call the box office on (0161) 761 2216 for information.