AMELIA Lily is completely happy to have green skin, a fat nose and to spend her nights kissing a bloke that’s uglier than a dragon’s temper.

“I just love having green skin,” says the one-time X Factor star smiling. “In fact, it’s something I’ve dreamt about for a long time.

Amelia’s emerald colouring is of course down to her latest stage role.

The 23 year-old plays Princess Fiona in Shrek in Glasgow next week, the musical theatre show about ogre love and how we shouldn’t judge people on face value.

“Back in 2012, I appeared in a Children in Need sketch in which I played Princess Fiona and sang songs from Shrek,” Amelia recalls.

“Right from that time I felt I would go on to play her. And now I am.”

Amelia adds; “I went to see the show in the West End so many times and watched the likes of Kimberley Walsh and Amanda Holden play the Princess.

“Princess Fiona has always been part of me. I love the fact she has these tomboy elements, which I can really relate to. And I love the comedy of Shrek. But at the same time, you never lose the story. Which is so full of love.”

Those who first discovered Amelia via the X Factor in 2011 may be surprised to learn that Middlesbrough-born singer has transferred to musical theatre.

But she explains that’s not the case at all.

“I always wanted to work in musical theatre,” she maintains. “I went to dance school when I was young, and I longed to be the lead part.

“When I was 16 I had actually applied for a stage school.”

Fate took a hand.

“What happened was my application form got lost in the post and and literally a week later I landed the X Factor.”

After The X Factor, Amelia was signed by Sony with a £500,000 record deal, and released You Bring Me Joy, which made No 2 in the charts.

“But then through Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I stepped into another musical theatre.”

Was the X Factor a torrid experience, voted in, voted out?

“Actually, I loved the whole experience,” she maintains.

“It was a fantastic time for me. I really grew up during the making of the show. And I don’t regret it for a minute.”

As a schoolgirl, Amelia had been writing songs in her bedroom and posting YouTube videos. Her version of Adelle’s Someone Like You attracted over one million views.

However, the X Factor success offered a chance to turn a nose up at the bullying schoolgirls who’d said she would never make it.

Amelia could also look back and smile when she starred as the grungy love interest in Green Day musical American Idiot, as Whatsername.

“I loved appearing in that show,” she says, the enthusiasm in her voice vibrant. She also loved her stint in Celebrity Big Brother.

“I don’t regret anything,” she says in soft voice. “Life is all about learning.”

And now she’s learning to be an ogre. “And loving it,” she says.

Shrek The Musical: The King’s Theatre, from September 25 to October 7.