She clinched her big break at the age of 23, when she was chosen to play Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, the acclaimed musical by Willy Russell, the dramatist behind Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine.
Storm has since reprised the role in more than a dozen productions. She also had a hit song in 1985 with The Show, which was co-written by Russell for the TV series Connie.
She went on to perform some of the biggest roles in musical theatre, including Eva Peron in Evita, Grizabella in Cats, Fantine in Les Miserables, and Florence in Chess.
Rebecca moved to Ireland almost 25 years ago and lives in Co Kildare with her husband Kenny Shearer, a musical director.
She’ll perform songs from Blood Brothers and Les Miserables in her show, An Evening with the First Lady of Musical Theatre, at the Wexford Opera House on December 6 and at The K Club on December 28.
How did your upbringing influence your relationship with money?
I’ve been rich in love and poor in cash, and poor in love and rich in cash. Thankfully, my upbringing taught me how to cope with both.
Rebecca, centre, with her mum, dad and two sisters
Up until I was eight, we lived in a very big house. Then dad sadly died when he was only 42 and we had to move to a much smaller house. Mum had to cope with three young daughters.
Was there ever a time you felt broke?
Yes, in both cash and love.
Have you ever seen anyone spend money in a way that shocked you?
Well, I shocked my mother when I bought my first London home. She said: “Oh my God, you could buy five houses on our road for that!” She was a Yorkshire girl and that was 40 years ago. Now I’m shocked at the prices people are prepared to pay in certain areas for a house the size of a small caravan.
Have you ever had a windfall?
No, but I’m still hoping for one. Although when I received an advance from Sony Records for my ‘Broadway by Storm’ album, it felt like one.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
My husband. He probably won’t read this, but you’re worth every penny, darling.
What was your worst ever job?
As a teenager, and before I began singing professionally, I briefly worked on the checkout at a supermarket. I liked the job, and we had a lot of fun – but I’d grown my fingernails like Barbra Streisand’s and I broke them all punching the buttons on the till. I was heart-and-nail broken.
What’s your biggest financial regret?
Buying a Chinese coffee table in Beijing when we visited the Great Wall of China. The table is great – but we had to pay three times the cost in taxes and import duties to collect it in Dublin six months later. We still have it and cherish it, and it’s always a conversation piece when we have people over. But Mum would turn in her grave if she knew what we’d paid.
11-year-old Elizabeth Hewlett, who went on to become Rebecca Storm
Do you still carry cash?
Absolutely not. The Queen didn’t and if it was good enough for her…
Are you a spender or a saver?
Both. Especially on a rainy day.
Do you have a pension?
I think so – I hope so. I’m not really sure.
What three things would you not be able to do without if you had to tighten your belt?
A morning cup of tea, a winter coat, and a Ninja air fryer.