Seductive signature act: Dita bathes in a huge Martini glass

"I know the picture the paparazzi want is me coming out of Starbucks in jeans with my hair all messy, but that's just not going to happen," she laughs.

"I just think that when you take a minute to look your best, you get what you want. And," she adds, "I pretty much get what I want."

Looking at her now, exuding Forties glamour, that's not too hard to believe.

While her stage dances can be risque, in person she is softly spoken and, dare one say it, shy.

But that she is a beguiling mix of contradictions is unquestionable.

Born Heather Sweet 35 years ago in smalltown America, she has transformed herself from a pretty yet unremarkable blonde into a sultry brunette with va-va-voom curves by sheer determination, a boob job and corsetry.

"I've always been fascinated with the idea of transformation I'd look at pictures of Rita Hayworth and be captivated.

"I was always shy as a young girl, but wearing my hair and doing my make-up a certain way transformed me and it became a hobby to turn myself into a cartoon character."