A BUDDING Clacton actress has clinched a spot at a world-renowned youth theatre group once attended by big-screen superstars Dame Helen Mirren and Daniel Craig.

Clacton Coastal Academy pupil Jasmine Metcalfe is celebrating after successfully auditioning for the National Youth Theatre in London.

The theatre group only takes on a handful of new members out of thousands of hopefuls each year.

Its never-ending list of famous former students includes Oscar-winners Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis and Sir Ben Kingsley, as well as film stars Orlando Bloom and Colin Firth.

Jasmine, 14, dreams of taking to the stage in the West End and hopes the National Youth Theatre will help her reach her goal.

Since 2008, she has been honing her skills in musical theatre, singing and dancing at Frinton performance school Stagestruck.

Jasmine will spend two weeks in August on the National Youth Theatre’s junior course in London before becoming a fullyfledged member.

With the theatre group, she will work with experts, take part in training sessions and show off her skills in performances and productions.

Stagestruck Academy principal Simone Castle said: “We are all very proud of Jasmine being accepted into such a prestigious company as the National Youth Theatre.

“Although Jasmine is multi-talented, drama is her passion and nowall her hard work has most definitely paid off.”

The teen star’s previous professional performances include taking part in the national tour of A Christmas Carol and playing Phyllis in a production of The Railway Children.