As a soap opera serial killer Henry Luxemburg struck terror into the hearts of millions of viewers.

But the heart-throb actor is currently taking on a more gentlemanly role in a new production of Pygmalion, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of George Bernard Shaw.

Henry, who is best known for playing charming but deadly Toby Mills in Channel 4's teen soap Hollyoaks, is Freddy Eynsford Hill in Shaw's masterpiece about the transformation of Eliza Doolittle from Cockney flower girl to a lady who can hold her own in London's high society.

A funny and devastating critique of the English class system, the play looks at what happens when Henry Higgins, professor of linguistics and confirmed bachelor, wagers that within six months he will transform feisty Eliza into a sophisticated lady with a cut-glass accent and immaculate manners.

But Higgins is playing a dangerous game and risks losing everything when he arrogantly overlooks the fact that his 'social experiment' has a mind of her own.

Henry says Freddy is the only character who accepts Eliza as she is.

"On first reading of the play you might think Freddy is a bit of an upper-class fool. But he's just content with life, whatever situation he's in he'll find something good about it.

"He's the only one of the society set in Pygmalion that isn't prejudiced against anyone. He falls for Eliza straight away, it's her natural charm that attracts him. She could be a Covent Garden flower-seller or the toast of London society and he'd still want her.

"Everyone knows the character of Freddy from My Fair Lady (the musical based on Pygmalion), but that's not necessarily the way I'm playing him. I saw My Fair Lady a few years ago but I've steered clear of going to see it recently."

Henry says the play's unresolved ending leaves us guessing whether or not Eliza ends up with Freddy or her mentor, Professor Higgins.

"It is suggested in Shaw's epilogue that she will end up with Freddy but it's up to the audience to decide whether or not they get married, " he says. "The play is very loyal to the original text, it's presented in a traditional way and has an early 20th century feel about it. We use video images to convey some scenes but it retains a traditional feel."

Despite being set in Edwardian England, the play remains relevant in today's society and Henry says this boils down to class snobbery and prejudice. "Pygmalion is still very relevant, it has much to say about social class, money and spiritual freedom, " he says. "Prejudice is very much around today, in terms of how people are treated because of the way they look or talk.

"The play is also relevant in terms of how it examines women's independence. Eliza becomes a lady but where does she go from there? Higgin's social experiment is a success but, as she says, what is to become of her?

She doesn't have the means to be independent but she can't go back to what she was."

"The play's relevance to our world today is still undeniable, we continue to be defined by our outward demeanour and it is still true that financial security is necessary for individuals if they are to be able to contribute effectively to our society, " adds director Damian Cruden. "As Doolittle says: 'It is making a gentleman of me that I object to. . . . .I have to live for others and not for myself; that's middle class morality.

"Pygmalion is the summit of Shaw's comic works, it is Cinderella meets Frankenstein, the politics of sex in a comedy of manners. It was written at a time of great political legislative reform, and Shaw believed that an understanding of phonetics could dismantle the British class system - 'the reformer we need most today is an energetic phonetic enthusiast' he said."

Henry landed the role of Toby Mills just six months after graduating from drama school.

"It was a fantastic experience, I learned loads, " he says. "I love the buzz of being on a TV set, being surrounded by cameras and all the technical stuff. People underestimate how hard working on a soap is, it's like getting a daily paper out to strict deadlines.

"I'd love to do more TV work but for now I'm happy on the stage. All my training was on stage, I love the shared experience you get with a live audience."

Pygmalion runs at the York Theatre Royal from tomorrow to June 17. Ring (01904) 623568.