The bright lights are calling for 11-year-old Truro High student Lavender Leishman who has just finished the first days of shooting in her first leading film role.

Lavender, 11 from Falmouth, is playing the lead role of Cathy in a brand-new short film written and directed by Steve Baldwin.

“Cathy” is a 20-minute period drama about a young Victorian girl and is a companion piece to Baldwin’s feature-length movie, “The Ballad of Lucy Sands”. The movie has already been causing a stir on the film festival circuit ahead of its premiere next winter, earning nominations for best trailer and best film poster at the Prodigy Film Festival.

Against tough competition from a huge number of actresses from across the country, Lavender’s impressive video audition earned this exciting role.

Even more impressive, the young actress mastered a Cumbrian accent in order to win the part.

This weekend, Lavender headed to set at Flambard’s Victorian Village to shoot the interior scenes of the film. She will be heading to Cumbria in the New Year to complete filming with a two-day shoot on location. The film is set to be released later in the year.

Lavender said: “It feels really exciting; it’s the biggest part I’ve ever had. Going on set with this incredible team of actors was an amazing feeling – they’re so talented and I can’t wait for the rest of the filming.”

A keen actress, Lavender has previously played Ivy in the 14-minute dramatic short film, “Escape”, performed as an extra in Poldark and starred in “Peace in Our Time”, a 90-minute WW2 feature film by 16-year-old award-winning writer and director, Oliva Maiden.

She undertakes LAMDA (London Academy of Dramatic Arts) tuition at Truro High School and regularly stars in student productions. Next summer, she will be taking on the leading role of The Fool in Truro High’s production of Terry Pratchett’s “Wyrd Sisters”.

Truro High 11-year-old Lavender earns first leading role in independent film