To say Toyah is busy is an understatement. She is touring the UK with her acoustic and electric shows, writing two new albums, and has just finished work on a feature film.

Somewhere in between she finds time for meet and greets, learning three musical instruments, and interacting with her fans online.

The singer and actress rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with an appearance in the film Quadrophenia, and hits including It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, and she has not stopped since.

Over the course of 30 years, she has released 20 albums, had 13 top 40 hits, and appeared widely in film, theatre and television.

Recent musical appearances for Toyah include a sell-out acoustic date at Shoreham’s Ropetackle Arts Centre earlier this month, and she will be in Brighton for a full-on electric show, Songs From The Intergalactic Ranch House, at The Haunt on November 7.

“At the moment, this year is blowing 35 years away,” reflects Toyah. “It has been incredible; we are getting standing ovations every night.

“The acoustic gigs have been so successful that I really need to consider doing another acoustic album.”

Toyah speaks at a frenzied pace giving the distinct impression that her life is in fact the whirlwind that it seems on first sight.

This year in particular, she has been riding a wave of success with sell-out dates and enthusiastic audiences aplenty.

Toyah’s acoustic shows feature anecdotes and stories, set around a set list of her singles to date, while her electric shows are a different beast altogether.

“When we do the electric show, we always do that in rock clubs; the band is a good, high-energy rock band. What we are doing is an electric version of a singles collection.”

Thirty years into a successful career, Toyah’s back catalogue appears to have a lasting appeal.

“My audiences love these songs because the songs have narrated parts of their lives. Some have even got married to my music,” says Toyah.

“There is also definitely a new college generation of fans. I’m always playing to a new and younger audience.

“Then you have got the incredible interest in and love of ‘80s music.”

“It’s climatic; it’s very colourful and descriptive. It has highs and lows. I think when you look at music today, it is mixed for iPads, phones and apps, but when we mixed music 30 years ago it was mixed for the best hi-fi systems available – there’s so much depth in the sound.”

She is about halfway through a follow-up to her 2008 release In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, but is keeping tight-lipped about any of the details, saying that she doesn’t want to fuel any rumours.

Toyah is also writing a new album for her transatlantic project The Humans, which is due for release to coincide with their tour next April.

Toyah, 56, has sustained a prolific career, and as such is used to being in the public eye, however she detests the gossip and speculation that comes with having a high profile.

One way in which she is responding to this is by answering questions from fans in the form of a video blog on her website.

“After every live show I do a meet and greet anyway, but I don’t do social media. I don’t have time to do any of that; this is my compromise.

“Hearsay is incredibly irritating. By answering questions, it is a great way of directly connecting with people. The questions are always good.

“Fans are very interested in the songs. I get questions about the songs rather than my personal life, which is great.”

She reveals that one fan has recently asked if she was to meet a genie who has a specific wish to grant, would it be to win a Nobel Prize, a Grammy, an Oscar, or an Olivier award.

“I don’t know what I would do to receive a Nobel Prize, but I would have difficulty choosing between the other three,” says Toyah.

Whenever she has a spare minute Toyah is studying the violin, guitar and keyboard.

“I know a lot about music theory,” says Toyah. “But I’m always tripping up on my ability to play something.

“I can write a whole album without actually being able to play it myself to concert standard.

“It’s something I want to address while I still can.”

One could be forgiven for thinking Toyah has been focusing solely on her music, but the truth is anything but.

She has recently finished filming Aaaaaaaah!, co-starring alongside actors including Julian Rhind-Tutt and Noel Fielding.

Directed by Steve Oram, this is a film like no other, with no spoken dialogue and everyone communicating with monkey-like grunts.

“I just think it’s going to be huge,” says Toyah. “It is an incredibly violent film based on the idea of the alpha male.

“I get through four husbands. Every husband bar one gets murdered. But it is a comedy.

“Steve wrote the script in English, we rehearsed it in English, then shot it without words.”

Toyah is busy, but then she prefers it that way.

“My work is incredibly fun. I love the live shows, I love filming, and I love doing the telly that I do. It’s not like doing a nine to five job; every day is different.”

  • Toyah Willcox, Songs From The Intergalactic Ranch House, is at The Haunt, Brighton, on November 7. Tickets £18. www.thehauntbrighton.co.uk