Ten-year-old Nathalie Emmanuel has eyes that twinkle with confidence, a smile that lights up the room and a lead role in Disney's new musical the Lion King.

She has beaten off stiff competition from thousands to be one of four girls who will play Nala, the young girlfriend of Simba, the future king of Pride Rock. She will appear in Disney's award-winning Broadway show that opens in London on September 24.

Whatever preconceived ideas you might have about child actors Nathalie, of Hamlet Court Road, Southend, is likely to blow them all away with her wickedly infectious giggle - and her honesty - she told me that when she thought that she hadn't got the part after trekking up to London for nine auditions "I was really stroppy."

Nathalie has been dancing since she was three, learning her stage-craft with Wendy Headford at the South East Theatre School.

Although this is the most important role to date, Nathalie is no stranger to professional engagements. She appeared in Aladdin at the Cliffs last year with Melinda Messenger, Jonathan Morris, Patrick Moore and Little and Large.

Did she speak to them? Were they nice? "Oh yes, they were very nice. I liked them all," sparkled the reply. "She got all of their mobile phone numbers," added her mother, Debbie.

Nathalie has also made commercials, one for Walt Disney's video launch of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and an inpflight on for British Airways.

"My gran was on a plane once when it was shown," she grinned."She said to the woman sitting next to her. Oh look, that's my granddaughter!"

Nathalie has also appeared on TV's EastEnders as an extra. Now the St Hilda's schoolgirl has grabbed a role that could launch her into a big-time career.

"For the first audition I had to sing Part of That World, from the Little Mermaid. Then I was called back and I had to sing Can't Wait to be King.

"After that I had to keep going back, and I had to learn lines, and the very last time I had to go and perform in front of a lady from America.

"When I heard I had the part I just screamed."

Rehearsals for the musical are due to start in August.

A star in the making - Nathalie Emmanuel

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