Frasier's British star Jane Leeves has made her debut as Sally Bowles in a Broadway production of Cabaret.

The actress, who plays Daphne Moon in the hit US TV comedy, plays Sally Bowles, the part made famous by Liza Minnelli in the film version.

It is the first theatre role for Leeves, reported to be one of Britain's highest paid actresses after securing a £275,000-a-show deal for Frasier.

"I'm an insane person for doing this," the 40-year-old actress told USA Today before Tuesday's performance.

"Had I stopped to think it through, it probably would have seemed too scary."

British director

Leeves, who was once a regular on The Benny Hill Show, said her Cabaret co-stars were not worried about her lack of stage experience.

"They're so grateful to have someone who will hopefully put some bums in the seats and keep the show going. I've been treated very well."

She said British director Sam Mendes had made her feel at home in the role of a performer during the end of Weimar Germany and the rise of Nazism.

"He said that the nice thing about having an English girl playing Sally is when I say to you 'She's a Lancashire girl trying to pass herself off as a Chelsea girl', you know what I mean."

Leeves replaces Pretty in Pink star Molly Ringwald in the long running Broadway show until 15 July.

Leeves, who was born in London but grew up in East Grinstead, West Sussex, moved to Hollywood in 1981.