Bearded lady Carrie Harvey speaks five languages, is a classically-trained singer and has ridden out as a professional showjumper.

Now she has landed her dream job in a freak show.

Carrie, 30, who lives in Kemp Town, appears alongside a host of bizarre acts in the Circus of Horrors, which stops off in Brighton later this month.

She shares the stage with elastic-skinned Gary Stretch, the sword-swallowing Wasp Boy and the pickled woman, who squeezes her bendy frame into a tiny bottle, in the unique rock'n'roll stage show.

Her career began two years ago when she was scanning the back pages of actors' bible The Stage, looking for work.

She said: "I'd seen the show before and thought it was completely mad so I thought I knew what I was letting myself in for.

"The advert said they were looking for a singer and an understudy."

Carrie sailed through the audition and was offered the job. It was only then she was told about the beard.

She said: "The director is Pierrot Bidon and, because of his French accent, I thought he was saying the bird lady. I spoke to him in French and realised what I'd got myself into.

"At first I was horrified but it was so much fun. It took me ages to find a beard that stayed on during the songs."

Now she has perfected the effect with a combination of prosthetics glues.

Carrie grew up in Epsom, Surrey, and moved to Brighton five years ago with her husband, Gary Rogers, who works as an agent for a clothing company. The pair arrived from London with a suitcase of clothes and £350.

Carrie said: "I ran European tours for people visiting from the States, went on tour with straight theatre and pantomime and sang. I've never had a 'proper job'."

The Circus of Horrors is not just an exhibition of the extraordinary.

The wittily-scripted musical, complete with trapeze artists, acrobatic vampires and breathtaking pyrotechnics, has been dubbed the "funniest show on Earth" by one German newspaper.

The troupe has toured Europe, the US and Japan, stunning audiences with their performances.

Carrie said: "I've got lots of friends in Brighton and I'm hoping they don't recognise me.

"Gary has been great about it but he prefers me without the beard."

The Circus of Horrors arrives at the Brighton Centre on November 28 at 8pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 0870 9009100.