'People remember her a certain way': Aussie actress taking on role of childhood heroine, Mary Poppins

Actress Stefanie Jones admits she has a big job when it comes to taking on the role of Mary Poppins on stage in Sydney in a few months.

You'd struggle to find somebody who didn't see, and love, the original 1964 film about the iconic nanny as a kid.

"She's so well-loved, such a strong, fierce memory for so many people," Jones told 9Honey.

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"People remember her a certain way and want to see her a certain way."

Mary Poppins the musical is based on the original books by Aussie writer PL Travers, as well as the Disney movie.

All the classic songs, including 'Jolly Holiday', 'Step in Time', 'Feed the Birds' and 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious', are there, along with a few new ones.

Julian Fellowes, best known for creating mega-hit TV show Downton Abbey, wrote the script, and the show has been a hit around the world. It was last on in Australia 10 years ago.

Of course, a big element of getting Mary right is nailing her famous clipped English accent, made famous by Julie Andrews.

Jones, who grew up in Brisbane but is now based in Sydney, said she's not finding it too much of a stretch, thanks to her acting training.

But she said she might remind herself of those dulcet tones before rehearsals start.

"That's such an iconic part of Mary and I think a lot of her nostalgia, the crisp way in which she speaks," she said.

"I did think to myself, 'I will treat myself one more time to watch the film again before rehearsals'."

Luckily, if she does slip up, Mary's sidekick — chimney sweep Bert — is being played in the new production by one of Jones' oldest friends, Jack Chambers.

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The pair met when they appeared in The Sound of Music as kids and, like her, he's gone on to have a successful career.

Chambers won reality show So You Think You Can Dance Australia and has performed in musicals including Hairspray, as well as with Hugh Jackman and in New York City.

"He's going to be a fantastic Bert," Jones, said.

"To be able to have a pal on this journey, it really is very special."

The pair landed their plum roles after being flown to London to do their final auditions for the show in front of musical maestro Cameron Mackintosh.

Luckily Jones, who is best known for playing Rhonda in the stage version of Muriel's Wedding, isn't put off by working with kids in the show.

Mary is, of course, tasked with taking care of unruly pair, Jane and Michael.

Jones, whose partner is fellow actor Aaron Tsindos, is well-versed in sharing the stage with younger actors after playing Liesel, the eldest sister in another production of the The Sound of Music, a few years ago.

"By the time we'd toured, I'd had 70 Von Trapp siblings come through," she said.

"With kids, sometimes they just do the damnedest things or they drop a line, or lose a shoe, or a hair ribbon's caught, and you just have to sort of swoop in and rescue them.

"It certainly keeps you on your toes."

DETAILS: Mary Poppins the musical, opens at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on May 15.