Some wore thick glasses, others had unwashed hair. Many tried to hide their beauty with unflattering tracksuits.

But the 100 actresses who turned up to the general audition to play Fran in Strictly Ballroom: The Musical on Sunday were all convinced they were right for the role.

Strictly business: Dancers at the general audition for the role of Fran at Walsh Bay. Credit:Janie Barrett

''A lot of these girls who come along think they're Fran,'' said casting director Lynne Ruthven. ''But they don't know as much about the character or the story as we do.''

Carla Cameron was always going to be a long shot for the role of Fran, given her age and lack of ballroom dancing experience.