Valerie joins Genevieve to reminisce about making the hit '80s TV show Fame.

She talks about missing out on the original role of Doris in Alan Parker's Oscar-winning version, before landing the part on the small screen - and how the character's issues with body image reflected her own experience in real life.

Valerie also chats about "Fame mania" that spread around the world, her famous fans and pays tribute to Leroy actor Gene Anthony Ray.

She also opens up about the toll the heavy workload took on the cast, her subsequent move into writing and directing, and tells the unusual story of how she got together with her current partner.

Plus she reveals how she recently had to decide whether to have a belly button or not...

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Episode hosted, produced and edited by Genevieve.

Theme music by Mark Savage @mrdiscopop