Kimberley Walsh wants to be known as an actress.

The former Girls Aloud singer is hoping to follow in the footsteps of singer-turned actress Billie Piper by launching an acting career now that the 'Something New' girl band have gone their separate ways for good.

Since the split, Kimberley has already notched up an acting credit in all-singing, all-dancing movie 'All Stars 3D' and is looking to snare some more screen time as soon as possible.

She said: ''I started acting at five and then the band happened. But now it feels like the right time to get back to basics. I look at Billie Piper and think she's got an amazing career. But then all my friends say they want me to be the next Julie Andrews.''

With a career in change in mind, the 31-year-old star admits she is ready for a ''challenge'' as she felt being in the chart-topping girl band - which also included Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts - was getting ''too easy''.

She explained to Closer magazine: ''We were so comfortable as a group and that last tour was so easy for us. We know our dynamics and we how we all perform live. It was almost too easy being on tour with the girls. What I'm really excited about is the next challenge.''