Ice-skating is as easy as walking for Angela Lien, who took up the sport when she was just three-years-old and by the time she was a teenager, this American was competing in figure skating competitions at national level.

But since 2008, the 35-year-old from Minnesota, who won a silver medal at the World University Games in 2003, has switched to performing in professional ice shows and will be gliding across Wembley stadium as one of Disney's most loved queens, Elsa.

The latest Disney on Ice tour celebrates it's silver anniversary and features characters and songs from the classics including Micky Mouse, Simba, Peter Pan, Ariel and Flounder and to find out more about life on the Frozen ground, we caught up with Angela.

Can you tell us about Disney on Ice?

I joined Disney on Ice in 2013 during their Asia tour with their show Treasure Trove and I have been lucky enough to travel the world over there – Japan, China, South East Asia and Australia and New Zealand. Then this past year I joined the Silver Anniversary celebrations and where I have travelled through Eastern Europe and now we’re in the UK.

This is the first year that I have been portraying Elsa, previously I was Wendy from Peter Pan. I also played Jessie from Toy Story 3. It was so much fun, playing so many different characters. I would probably say Else though is my favourite character to play, because she is such a strong character yet graceful and elegant. There’s a range of being able to be a pretty skater and a strong skater – I guess because she is a Queen and not a princess.

Is this something that you always saw yourself doing?

Not at first but as I grew up I was able to take part in lots of ice shows and became very interested in doing it for a career.

The ice shows were just at a local skating club and each year we would have a different theme so it was fun to always challenge yourself to do something different each year… and it really helped develop my love for wanting perform in ice shows. There was group numbers, solos... sometimes there was acting involved, sometimes dancing – we had ensemble with everyone in the show for the opening and closing of the shows.

How hard is it to not just skate on the ice, but to dance, sing and act all at the same time?

It certainly takes all of your training, definitely you need to make sure you’ve trained and that you are ready for the role. You have to be technically sound, which means you need to make sure you are taking care of your body and you’re healthy. All sorts of components are involved and that makes you very a well rounded person and skater.

What has been the most challenging for you?

It’s probably getting the character to be what you see and what you know you want it to be. Making sure what you are portraying is what you want it to be.

Can you tell me about when you were a figure skater and competing in competitions?

I started competing when I was about 11/12 and grew up doing all the qualifying competitions in the states. In 1996, I was fortunate enough to get out of the regionals, on to the sectionals and then the nationals and that intensified my need and want to be a competitor.

I made the nationals a few times after that and even warmed up with and was able to compete with Michelle Kwan – that was pretty amazing and a huge milestone in my life. In college I was a full time student and as I had made nationals, I was chosen to take part in the World University Games (for figure skating).

For that in the US you have to be a full time college student and be competing in the highest level competition, so it was a huge honour for me to be able to go on that and represent my country.

It definitely takes some serious time management juggling being a full-time student with training – it was a little hard to figure out at first, but was good for me to figure that out, because that’s what life can be like.

You take the maximum amount of credits you can do alongside your training schedule. Somehow you make it work – there were probably some nights that were sleepless.

I won a silver medal here and that was absolutely amazing. It mind boggling. It was a complete moment of awe in my life - it was something that I had definitely trained for but never ever expected.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight of my competitive games was probably the University World Games. And the highlight of my professional career is probably portraying Elsa. It has probably been the most challenging, but I welcomed the challenge and I enjoy it and brings back some memories from competitive training. And also I am portraying this great character who is elegant, graceful and just a joy.

Did you have a character in mind that you wanted to play?

No. I was just looking for a change of pace and was hoping to be hired and lucky enough to be hired and I just figured I know what was best for me.

Some of the costumes are big and heavy – how is it wearing something like that and ice-skating?

Elsa has a beautiful costume. There’s a point where she comes out for her solo and she has a beautiful cape on, which is really heavy. Skating in that is a bit of a challenge, especially at the beginning but it has become easier now that I have practiced. It definitely throws off your balance a little bit, but with a little practice and learning to find your balance again and perform its fine.

It took me a good three days to really feel balanced on my feet again, which is strange as I’ve been doing it all my life and have always been balanced, and to be thrown off your balance is strange, but good, keeps you in check.

Most of the costumes I had had have been pretty easy to skate in – I’ve got this beautiful ‘Let It Go’ dress and be like this beautiful queen.

Have you had any nasty injuries?

Unfortunately. Growing up competing I actually ended up with three fractures. One fracture was on my outside ankle, another one was in my shin and the other was in my other foot in the heel bone.

Do you have any rituals that you do before a show?

My main one that I do that has kind of turned into a superstition and an everyday thing is I put on my left skate and tie it before putting on my right skate. It’s for no reason that I know of – it’s just always been that way and engrained.

Do your legs ever shake when you go on to the ice through nerves?

Yes. The first time I was portraying Elsa, it was a very nerve wracking moment and I definitely had the nervous shakes. It’s the moments before you usually hit the ice, but once you are on and you find your groove its fine. But usually it’s just that first time.

And the first time I did perform as Elsa it was just so amazing. And here the crowd cheer, and are singing along with you and that gave me goose bumps. When you are out on the ice, to know that your playing a character that is so loved and looked at being such a strong person, it just resonated in my body and really with awe and just amazing character.

What are you most looking forward?

I’m looking forward to performing at Wembley. My husband is a big tennis fan and just having a coffee and sitting in the park enjoying the sunshine if there’s some sun.

SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, HA9 0AA, from April 13 to 17. Details: 0844 8440444, disneyonice.com