A TEENAGER is being tipped for stardom after landing the lead role in a new television series.

Grace Francis plays Zara Khan in Zara's Notebook, which tells the story of a 17-year-old growing up in the fictitious town of Fulchester and due to be screened later this year.

Despite having no formal training she has already been shortlisted for several feature films and helped direct the last ever episode of teen drama, Byker Grove.

Grace, 18, from Ingleby Barwick near Yarm, is studying for A Levels at Egglescliffe School and then plans to take a gap year to pursue her acting career in London.

She is following in the footsteps of her two older brothers, Kristian, 20 and Elliott, 22, who have both appeared in feature films.

Elliott starred in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince after securing a scholarship to the prestigious Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, which Oscar-winning Kate Winslet attended.

Grace's mother, Sue Francis, thinks a chance meeting with film producer Paul Webster and director Joe Wright at the premiere of Atonement in Redcar gave Grace a lucky break.

After Mr Webster asked for her contact details, she was offered a role in the teen-flick Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging a week later.

Mrs Francis said: "People have told me that Grace will be famous one day. I will not stand in the way of her dream, all I want is my children to be happy."