London, June 23: Claire-Marie Hall, who gave up Oxbridge academia in favour of the stage, has landed the lead role of Gabriella Montez in the West End production of `High School Musical`.

The British stage show, which opens at the Hammersmith Apollo for a 10-week run, is already close to selling out.

The 22-year-old actress, who has spent the past few months playing Cosette in Les Miserables, will star opposite Mark Henry-Evans as heart-throb Troy Bolton.

Hall was brought up in Newport, Wales, by her hospital manager mother and care assistant father, and was a self-confessed `geek` at school.

"It`s funny to get this part because I do have a lot in common with Gabriella. I did well in my exams and I was set on being a lawyer. My parents had suggested it because it was a solid job and I grew up thinking it was what I would do. I wanted to go to Oxford or Cambridge so I went for the open day, but I never got as far as the interview process because when I was 17 I had a change of heart and realised I wanted to be on stage," the Telegraph quoted Hall, as saying.

"It was a big step for my parents. I remember having to go down and tell my mum, who was upset. I had to write a list of pros and cons explaining why I wanted to do it. They were worried that it wouldn`t be a steady job, but after drama school I went straight into Les Mis and I haven`t been out of work," she added.

(ANI)