The famous film When Harry Met Sally has been made into a stage play. Sarah Jayne Dunn, who plays Sally, chats to Nick Elvin

ASK anyone what they remember about the film When Harry Met Sally and they are likely to recall that scene in the restaurant when Meg Ryan gets a little excited.

But it is more than just that one moment that makes this feel-good movie many people’s favourite romantic comedy.

Now the stage play When Harry Met Sally will be coming to Harlow later this month, and taking on the role of Sally is former Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jayne Dunn, herself a big fan of the film.

“It’s a film I’ve always known and loved and you can always go back to it time and again,” says Sarah Jayne. “It’s a timeless story, it’s 21 years old but it’s still relevant.”

Sarah Jayne is joined by former Coronation Street actor Rupert Hill as Harry, who was played by Billy Crystal in the 1989 film. She says the script is very loyal to the film.

“It’s a very easy script to learn, it just slips off the tongue,” she says. “We all decided not to watch the film. It would be so easy to play the characters as they did so we thought we’d make them our own and make them as real as possible.”

Spanning 12 years, When Harry Met Sally is all about two New Yorkers and the friendship that develops between them. The story asks whether a man and a woman can ever really just be friends. In fact, Sarah Jayne hopes seeing the play will have audiences arguing over that question on the way home from the theatre.

“I think they can (be friends) but that’s one reason it’s so timeless – everybody is different and everybody’s going to have their own opinion about it.”

Sarah Jayne, 28, spent ten years on our screens as Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks, joining the soap aged just 14. Now treading the boards, she has been touring for the past 18 months in Boeing-Boeing, The Vagina Monologues and in this show.

“The good thing about theatre is having that instant response,” she says. “You can try different things. You can try something and then tweak it the next night.

“It’s also great being able to see different parts of the country, and get paid for it.”

Among her credits, Sarah Jayne also had a small part in the Batman film The Dark Knight.

“It was amazing,” she says. “It was only a day’s filming but it was incredible to work with all those great actors. It’s just like doing television, but with a much bigger budget.”

When Harry Met Sally is at the Harlow Playhouse from Monday, May 31 until Wednesday, June 2.

DISCOUNT TO GUARDIAN READERS Guardian readers are offered the special discounted ticket price of £15 (normal price £18). When booking, use the promotion code ‘harrysally’ to qualify. In addition, if you book ten tickets you will get one free.

Tickets: 01279 431945, www.playhouseharlow.com