Compass film role for Helen

Shropshire actress Helen Soraya is to celebrate her big screen debut in fantasy adventure The Golden Compass at a private screening tomorrow.

Helen, from Albrighton, plays a witch in the movie starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman.

"I didn't get to go to the premiere in London but we are having a private screening tomorrow, which should be really good," said Helen. The model and actress features in a scene full of witches alongside one of the other stars, Eva Green.

Although she did not work directly with Craig or Kidman on the movie, Helen said working on The Golden Compass was an "amazing" experience.

And she praised both Eva and young Dakota Blue Richards, who stars as Lyra, as very talented and lovely to work with.

Helen also appears in forthcoming musical Mama Mia with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth due out in the early part of next year and predicted to be a massive hit.

Helen added: "On the Mama Mia set working alongside such familiar names was thrilling. The roles they all play just seem made for them.

"The main character of the film is called Sophie and I play one of her friends seeing her through her wedding plans, hen night and wedding.

"It's a great part to play and I am really looking forward to it coming out."

Written and directed by Chris Weitz, The Golden Compass is based on the first novel of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Lyra is the fearless hero of the plot and the project is one of the few fantasy epics to have a girl at the centre of the storyline.

Craig plays her uncle, the rugged Lord Asriel, an explorer who realises children are facing a monstrous challenge from the Magisterium, a bureaucratic cluster of evil-doers looking to control free will.

Meanwhile Kidman takes on the role of Mrs Coulter, the decidedly glamorous villain.