Horror film debut for teen actor Leah

A young actor could be seen in cinemas across the country after appearing in her first film.
Actor Leah EddlestonActor Leah Eddleston
Actor Leah Eddleston

Leah Eddleston has already shot scenes for Habit, a horror film starring former Emmerdale actor Roxanne Pallet.

But the 16-year-old may not be old enough to watch the film if it is given an 18 rating when it is released next year.

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Her mum Andrea, of Whiteside Avenue, Hindley, laughed: “She’s not very happy about it. She will find a way round it I’m sure.”

Roxanne PalletRoxanne Pallet
Roxanne Pallet

Hindley High School pupil Leah dreams of becoming an actor and plans to study drama at college.

She joined Willpower Youth Theatre in Wigan when she was just six years old and did a voiceover for a Cartoon Network programme a few years ago.

Andrea said: “When she was a kid she liked hobbies and clubs. She was quite a shy little girl at the time and her brother was more confident, so we decided to try drama.

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“She really embraced it. The Willpower Youth Theatre is phenomenal.”

Roxanne PalletRoxanne Pallet
Roxanne Pallet

Leah was put forward for the role by Caroline Joynt, who runs the youth theatre and agency Intercity Casting.

And after going for an audition, she was “over the moon” to be selected for the part.

The film is an adaptation of Stephen McGeagh’s novel Habit and is being made in Manchester by Not A Number Productions.

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Michael witnesses a violent death, which leads to blood-drenched flashbacks and he feels himself being sucked into a world he does not understand.

Leah plays the young version of his sister Mand and appears in flashback scenes at the beginning and end of the film.

She spent a full day filming at a park, set up to look like the 1990s with old cars, and was chaperoned on set by her mum.

Andrea said: “She is in a couple of scenes. One is in a car and one is in a park area, so they did it through the day.

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“It was lovely. It was really professional and she had her own trailer.”

She said Leah “absolutely loved” the day and would like to go to more auditions in future as she pursues her dream of a career as an actor.

Andrea said: “I think she would like to direct as well as act. She loves the whole package.”

l Willpower Youth Theatre will hold a summer drama school in August for children aged seven to 17. To book or find out more, call 01942 745082.