Linda Duan is perhaps best known for her cameo role in the hit Marvel blockbuster Doctor Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Originally from Colchester, but now based partly in London, she’s making a welcome return home to appear in Packing Shed Theatre’s new open air summer show, All Hail Macbeth.

Telling a modern-day imagined version of the back stories of the Three Witches in Macbeth, it runs in the gardens of Tymperley’s in the centre of Colchester from August 21 to 25 at 7.30pm.

For tickets call the Colchester Arts Centre box office on 01206 500900.

What or who got you interested theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?

Honestly, the drama department at the school I went to was really lacking, and I remember debating with my friends about roles such as “Narnia”, how they just wouldn’t cast any of us as any of the four lead siblings because we were BAME... it might be something often overlooked but as a ethnic minority, we are aware of stuff like that. We went to a Saturday drama class but I definitely credit my friends most. My friends and I spent a lot of our weekends and holidays making Youtube sketches and videos, even adapting a whole play we studied at school into a feature film. (An inspector Calls). I don’t think our carefree attitude would have happened if we went to a mixed school, as we’d probably be worried about what the boys would think.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in the theatre?

No, I’m the black sheep.

What formal training have you done?

I studied at the International School of Corporeal Mime for two years and then at Ecole Philippe Gaulier for one year.

Who is the most inspiring person you’ve worked with and why?

Honestly working with Philippe Gaulier is incredible. I contribute a lot of my growth with him. He’s got a lot of love for you and really does want you to grow as a performer.

Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?

My martial arts (1st Dan Black belt in Shotokan Karate) as a specialist skill is probably the thing that is most useful to acting, but more in the film world - action movies and what not. Physical theatre and movement is something that I’m more deeply attuned to, but often it comes out when I’m not even thinking about it. The rhythm, texture, speed of something like a walk, for example, or when you’re sitting, is your weight on your feet or on your sitting bones, how far forward in your chair are you sitting, are you slouched, etc. That’s all things I potentially think about, either deliberately or subconsciously while rehearsing or even analysing someone else’s performance.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

My role Tina Minoru in Doctor Strange definitely, it’s an incredible opportunity to be a part of a Marvel blockbuster and I’m extremely grateful for it.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

I’ve been slobbered on, but I wouldn’t say it was embarrassing at all.

What role would you most like to play and why?

I’d love to play Eponine as a character (Les Miserables, Victor Hugo), but not in the musical version because I can’t sing. The character has a lot of love through so much suffering and is a true victim of circumstance. I felt so much for the character when I read the book.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Never but I love watching people corpse. Sometimes people take acting a bit too seriously and forget that a play is a “play”. I love seeing people have fun.

Any big plans for the future?

I’m working on a few projects at the moment but I can’t say too much. I do want to do good for the world so one of my projects is more on that side of things.

Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to other actors/directors?

Just learn your lines (there’s no shortcut) and get a friend to test you. Go over them everyday or every other day to make sure it’s stuck. After all that hard work, then you can have fun and be free.