FORMER Bury Grammar girl Amy Nuttall has more than a ghost of a chance at stage stardom.

For the BGS old girl is the youngest actor in a professional version of The Phantom of the Opera, and will be the understudy for the lead female role of Christine.

She said: "I'm really excited. But I'm also very nervous. It is my first-ever professional role."

Amy, 16, who has been studying at the Arts Educational School in Hertfordshire, had only one day to practise for the audition, having only found out about it at the last minute.

But she still managed to beat hundreds of other hopefuls. Now she will spend the next year as a member of director Cameron Mackintosh's touring company.

Amy, whose parents live in Bolton, has given up her A-level studies to begin the punishing rehearsing schedule before opening night in Bristol on April 26.

She not only has to learn the part of Christine for her understudy role but is part of the ensemble cast.

"My mum's really pleased, she's still on cloud nine," said Amy.

Amy's ambition is to become a screen actress after spending time in roles in London's West End theatres.

As a member of the National Youth Music Theatre, she has performed in front of Prince Andrew and Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.