Amanda Holden rushed into hospital

Actress Amanda Holden is being treated in hospital after suffering a serious kidney infection which has caused her "dreadful pain".

The 33-year-old star of BBC1 comedy Mad About Alice is on an antibiotic drip after being rushed to hospital from her north London home.

She had been winning plaudits for her performance in the West End hit Thoroughly Modern Millie-but is not now expected to return to the stage for at least two weeks.

A source said: "It is a very bad kidney infection and she's been in dreadful pain. It has been agony. She has been running a high fever and has been really very ill."

Holden first felt ill last week but was unable to establish what was wrong. Then on Saturday she became seriously ill and was rushed to hospital after boyfriend Chris Hughes contacted the ambulance service.

She is expected to stay in hospital for another few days at least.

It is understood her busy schedule may have weakened her immune system and led to the infection.

The source told the Daily Mirror-"She's feeling very down in the dumps that she can't be on stage, but she is now concentrating all her energies on getting better. The doctors are taking it one day at a time, but she hopes she can go home soon."

Medical staff have apparently warned Holden she will need plenty of rest to prevent the infection recurring. That could threaten her return to the stage and may lead to the star temporarily cutting back on TV appearances.

Holden's illness kept her away from Sunday night's Olivier awards, where she had been shortlisted for Best Actress for her role as Millie Dillmount - now being played by her understudy.

The star's spokesman said: "I can confirm Amanda is in hospital with a kidney infection, but she hopes to be back on stage soon."

Record producer Hughes, 30, has been at the hospital with Holden since she was admitted. The actress, who was married to comic Les Dennis, 49, for seven years before they divorced last November, recently said she had fallen "madly in love" with her new boyfriend.

She said: "This is it for me. Basically I've met my soulmate and it's fabulous."

She also spoke of starting a family at some stage.

"Children are my future - definitely - thought I've probably got a bit too much on at the moment," she said, adding: "I am madly happy, both in my personal and professional life."