Bristol actress Tuppence Middleton stars in Hitchcock TV thriller The Lady Vanishes

A FORMER Clevedon schoolgirl is to hit TV screens this weekend as the lead character in a new version of a Hitchcock classic.

Tuppence Middleton, 26, who grew up in the seaside town and was a student at Bristol Grammar School, is to take the lead role of spoilt, rich socialite Iris Carr in a version of The Lady Vanishes.

The one-off drama is to be screened on BBC1 on Sunday night.

Tuppence, who graduated from the ArtsEd drama school in Chiswick four years ago after gaining an honours degree in acting, showed star potential from an early age and was involved in many school productions in Clevedon, including a lead role in Guys and Dolls.

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She was also a regular face in local drama productions, taking part in a pantomime at Clevedon's Princes Hall with sister Angel.

Her first major acting role was in a teen horror movie called Tormented and recently she has had parts in the series Black Mirror and Lewis and appeared alongside Doctor Who star David Tenant in Spies of Warsaw.

Tuppence's family and friends will be gathering around their TV screens on Sunday night to watch her – and no one will be more proud than parents Tina and Nigel.

Tina, a hairdresser, said: "Tuppence always knew she wanted to be an actress and used to do plays for us with her sister and friends when she was younger.

"She always liked the arty side of things. Over the years she has worked really hard and was delighted when she got her first job which was a part in Tormented.

"She is very excited to get the role in The Lady Vanishes and could not believe it as it was a major role on BBC at peak time.

"All the family and friends will be sitting down to watch on Sunday."

Although Tuppence will be on TV screens this weekend, she is currently making her London stage debut in the play The Living Room at the Jermyn Street Theatre with Christopher Timothy.

And later this month she will appear in Danny Boyle's heist movie Trance as a character who weaves in and out of reality while art dealer James McAvoy is under hypnosis.

Tuppence has also secured a part in the new Wachowski Brothers film, Jupiter Ascending.

Both Tuppence's brother Josh, 22, and sister Angel, 28, also enjoy vocational careers. Angel is a wardrobe assistant and works with autistic children while Josh sings in a band and is a tennis coach.

And when Tuppence returns to Clevedon to see her family the first thing she wants is a roast dinner.

Tina added: "We have always supported Tuppence in what she wanted to do. She is a very focused young lady and has always said she wanted to do 'good work' rather than just any role.

"She is not particularly interested in being famous, but just concentrates on getting good roles and good scripts. She has auditioned for many roles, some which she has got down to the final two for.

"But if she doesn't get them, she just picks herself up and gets on with it.

"To us she is just Tuppence and when she comes home, she gets in her onesie, enjoys spending time with her family and always wants a roast dinner."

The Lady Vanishes is on Sunday, March 17, on BBC1 at 8pm.