World-famous violinist Nicola Benedetti tells of the demons she must face on stage

“Sometimes it’s fine and I’ll feel normal. But on other days it’s like I’m battling with multiple personalities.”

Supremely talented and in masterly control, Nicola Benedetti looks the picture of composure as she takes to stages all over the world. The Scottish violinist is in global demand with top orchestras and sellout audiences keen to hear her classical skills.

But now Nicola has opened up to The Sunday Post about the demons she faces every time she performs the self-doubt that plagues her and the anxieties she battles.

“When you’re doing, say, five concerts in a week you’re nervous every single day,” she confides. “And the variety of emotions I go through on the day of a concert is amazing.

“Sometimes it’s fine and I’ll feel normal. But on other days it’s like I’m battling with multiple personalities.

“One person is saying, ‘Come on, be confident, this is what you’ve practiced for all your life. You’re fine’. But another is doubting yourself, saying: ‘You’re not prepared enough and what happens if something goes wrong?’

“That’s the kind of turmoil, the intense struggle I can go through on the day.”

It’s hard to imagine the 26-year-old having confidence dilemmas. Forthright, clear, bubbly and chatty, the West Kilbride girl with Italian roots is, quite simply, lively good company.

Well-mannered, too. She’s very quick to apologise for having to reschedule our chat. Actually, it was twice.

The first time was forgivable as she got a last-minute call to fly to the States to appear with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. It involved a late-night flight from Edinburgh to London, an early-morning hop across the Atlantic, a bare-minimum rehearsal and right on stage that night.

She got a standing ovation.

“It was quite incredible because I didn’t have any time to prepare,” she confides. “I had a really bad cold and the pressure in my head just got worse and worse on the plane.”

There were millions of reasons why the second slight rescheduling was acceptable, too. All of them pound notes. Her prized Stradivarius violin, with an estimated value between £2 million and £10 million, needed a bit of urgent TLC.

“I’m SO sorry,” she says. “I had about four hours to get everything done before I flew away again. “I take absolute, constant care of the violin but you try not to over-think it. Otherwise you’d be a nervous wreck.”

Such is her attachment to the instrument she was quoted as saying that if there was a fire at her smart west London flat she’d save it before the cat.

“My mum would be appalled by that,” sighs Nicola. “I don’t think I actually answered that question that way. Anyway, I don’t even have a cat!”

What she does have, though, is long-term boyfriend, German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich. It’s often not a good idea to work with your partner, with the potential for the stresses of the day spilling over into home life. But the couple often perform as part of a trio. And Nicola says theirs is a passionate relationship.

“We’re upfront with one another,” she admits. “It’s open and straight and we don’t have those barriers of politeness. Occasionally both of us can overstep the mark. It’s very intense, both positively and negatively.

“But we’re still in love and one of the incredible pluses of the relationship is how much we learn from one another.”

The 11th-hour dash to New York last month came as Nicola was acting as ambassador for the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year. The fact that the New York Philharmonic came calling shows just how far Nicola has come since her stunning breakthrough winning the very same competition. That was 10 years ago and it’s been a decade of dizzying success.

After her triumph she signed a £1 million, six-album contract. Her 2012 release The Silver Violin was the first solo instrumental album in decades to be not only number one in the classic charts but also be a pop chart success. She’s met the Queen several times and was awarded an MBE last year.

It’s all come on the back of what seems a punishing schedule of non-stop rehearsals, filling every available hour with practice, practice, practice.

Surely having devoted herself to what seems like nothing but her playing since she was a child, she must have regrets on what she’s missed?

“The only thing I ever wish I’d done was be more aware of how much there was to learn,” she insists. “I wish I’d studied better and harder. I’m not trying to sound like a goodie two shoes but I’ve only ever thought why didn’t I realise this when I was younger?”

The absolute focus that’s made her one of the world’s top classical musicians has meant other music has taken not so much a back seat but no seat at all.

“It’s not that I’m not a fan of pop or rock concerts it’s just that I’ve never been to any,” she laughs. “Well, I did go to one, a Beyonce concert with a friend for a birthday surprise. She has a very powerful voice. I think other singers might risk more on stage but she’s incredibly polished.”

How she looks on stage or off is something that’s always been on the radar when it comes to Nicola and she’s been outspoken about the “sex sells” approach to fame. She views talent as what’s actually important.

With her big almond-shaped eyes, creamy complexion and model-like figure, image has certainly played some part alongside the extraordinary talent.

“I think a lot about how I want to be perceived on stage, it’d be nave not to,” she says. “Sometimes you don’t get it right. What looks a certain way in a dressing room looks very different on stage with cameras on you.”

Selecting those outfits seems, it has to be said, not exactly top of her priority list. And that’s where mum Francesca comes in.

“I’m very, very bad at shopping,” she sighs. “When I go with my mum she tells me to stop wasting time and try this or that. But if I have a free day, then to go shopping, is a ‘no thank you’. Basically, it’s just stressful. I think a lot of men will relate to that.”

While being at the top of her game means Nicola has earned enough Air Miles to, well, travel round the world again, home is still important. Her work with the Scots Big Noise project part of a charity to boost kids’ confidence through playing in a symphony orchestra is “an absolute priority” and her new album couldn’t be closer to her roots.

Homecoming: A Scottish Fantasy brings together classical and Scottish folk, with Burns songs and collaborations with the likes of famed traditional musician Phil Cunningham.

“Going to Burns Cottage is one of the strongest memories I have of growing up in Ayrshire,” she adds. “It was always a source of excitement. Every fibre of my body was determined to make this as good as possible.

“This will be just the beginning and I’ll definitely go back to playing Scottish music.”

Homecoming: A Scottish Fantasy (Decca) is out on July 7.