A 10-year-old girl from Crosby has landed the starring role in a new Dairylea television advert, despite it being her first acting audition. Nancy Noon appears in the advert, which shows a young girl enjoying a packet of Dairylea Dunkers in a bustling city before embarking on an imaginative adventure as the world around her disappears.
How the opportunity arose
The advert was filmed over two days in London, with scenes shot at four different locations, including an art gallery, Woolwich town centre, and two parks. Nancy's mum, Jenny Phoenix, 42, said the opportunity came about almost by chance after her daughter expressed an interest in modelling.
Jenny told the ECHO: "Like most little girls, Nancy wants to be an influencer, so she wanted to get some modelling photos done. We submitted them online and next thing we got a phone call saying she could come for an assessment in Manchester the next day."
"She had some photos taken and we applied for agents. She was signed by Little London Kids and they got her the audition for the Dairylea advert." Within four days, the pair were on their way to London for the audition.
Nerves and surprise success
"It all happened so fast," Jenny said. "She got a little bit nervous in the audition room because she started comparing herself to the other kids. Most of them were from London."
"A lot of them were stage school kids - you could see they were very polished. Nancy was one of the last auditions. There was another little girl sat in the waiting room and she was absolutely stunning. She had the perfect pigtails in and her mum was reminding her of acting lessons."
"It was just to have a bit of fun and see where it went. Neither of us ever imagined that her first audition she'd walk in and get it." Two days later, the family received an email from Nancy's agency confirming she had secured the role.
Reaction to the news
Jenny said: "It floored her when she got it. She was completely gobsmacked. It took a good week for it to sink in. We returned to London the next week for a wardrobe fitting. Make-up, different clothes, shoes; she was in her element."
Despite having no previous acting experience, Jenny believes her daughter's personality made her stand out. She said: "Nancy's character is exactly what the brand was looking for. She's a creative, happy little girl that just wants to go and explore the world."
"As her mum, that's easy for me to say, but for somebody else to look at her and see that, it's brilliant. I don't think she understands how big this achievement is."
Advert airs on TV
The advert has now begun airing on television, with friends and family quick to spot the young actress. Jenny said: "I woke up on Monday morning to a load of text messages. My phone was buzzing with people telling me they'd seen her on the telly. Nancy was sat watching the television and didn't even realise it was her on the screen."
"It's blown my mind. I was very emotional watching her. It was so strange having watched her film it and then seeing it on the screen." Asked whether the experience had sparked a passion for acting, Jenny said: "She's very happy-go-lucky and she'll give anything a go. Never say never."
