SHE could choose anywhere in the world but when Hazel O'Connor wants to get away from it all - she heads to Cullompton.

Forget Californian beaches or top London nightclubs, the star of the classic film Breaking Glass prefers a quieter time in the South West.

"I just love Somerset and Devon and go there whenever I can," she says.

"I love Cullompton. Its such a beautiful place and my idea of the perfect retreat. I'm a real cream tea aficionado. I can't get enough of them, they're absolutely heaven."

Hazel hopes to have the opportunity to indulge in her West Country passions when she plays The McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater.

Its part of a UK tour which will see her perform 80s cult classics such as Eight Day and Will You, along with a jazz and blues session.

She has teamed up with virtuoso saxophonist Clare Hirst (The Belle Stars, Communards, David Bowie) and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards and vocals. The result is a powerful blend of voices and musicianship which brings a classy touch of energy to Hazel’s vibrant performance.

Wherever she plays, Hazel knows she cannot leave the stage without singing the Breaking Glass soundtrack. Its not just because the album went Platinum and made her the first major female star of the 1980s, but for many people Breaking Glass summed up music for that decade.

One moment she was an unknown singer answering the phones for her record company, the next she shot to stardom, even giving David Bowie a haircut.

"Breaking Glass made and broke me," she says.

"At first, it was a case of art imitating life then when the film turned me into a major star, life began to imitate art. I got mobbed wherever I went. It was crazy."

Although she had never acted before, her riveting performance as Kate, an angry but creative young singer and s a silver alien costume inspired by songwriter, caught the public and media's attention.

Hazel wrote all the songs including the energetic Eight Day. In the film, she wears a silver alien's costume inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

Like all the songs, she wrote them over a two week period.

"I sat down and picked up a Bible and read, 'In the beginning was the Word.' Eight Day flowed from there. It was a song about humans playing God with technology. I thought I was writing about something way off in the future, but of course today we're living the silicon dream."

The 1980s saw Hazel win the Variety Club of Great Britain’s Film Actress Of The Year award, Breaking Glass soundtrack was nominated for BAFTA Best Film Soundtrack 1981 and mega chart toppers supporting Hazel on tour.

Her career was marred by a lengthy legal dispute although she is happy to be back on the road, performing her former hits with a brand new sound.

"I've been asked to do things like I'm A Celebrity but I told the producers I couldn't as I'm a vegetarian and despite what they might have thought, I'm really pretty normal," she laughs.

"Its odd, but I never really set out to be a singer. I really wanted to be a painter. I'm happy that I have managed to make art."

Fans will be delighted that Hazel’s back with a very special up-close and personal evening in which her unique voice delivers a renewed passion and fire as she explores a stunning repertoire of old and new songs and stories.

"In the first half of the show, we do all the 80s hits because we love them and I'm deliughted the audienc es does as well.

"In the second half, we do more blues and jazz numbers. I'm fortunate to be working with Clare and Sarah who are hugely talented artists. We have so much fun and just love performing together."

Hazel, of course, is no stranger to the live scene. From her early tours to her critically acclaimed partnership with harpist Cormac De Barra, her autobiographical theatre shows Beyond Breaking Glass and the Breaking Glass Live tour, she has been continually performing and writing and delighting audiences the world over.

In 2009 she was awarded her own star on Coventry's 'Walk of Fame'. Hazel celebrated 35 Years of Breaking Glass with a major city tour in November and December 2015 which included a sold out date at Union Chapel in London.

Fans at The McMillan will have the chance to chat with Hazel as she always holds a meet and greet session after her shows.

"Sometimes we are there for two hours or more. I feel that if people take the time and choose to spend money coming to hear me, I should take the time to say hello.

"Its always great fun meeting people my age and younger fans who know my music."

She might just need a cream tea or two to keep going.