Hollywood’s bright lights beckon Sophie

Sophie Mercer: star of new film “Lost Generation”

Actress Sophie Mercer is getting ready to take Hollywood by storm after starring in a gritty new feature film.

Sophie, from Lees, stars in “Lost Generation”, a film depicting a fight for survival in a bleak and dark view of the present-day.

The 24 year old plays Blair, the leader of an anarchist group who challenge the media-dominated society and attempts to tells people what’s relly happening.

She said: “The film is heavily influenced by true events of demonstrations and protests across the UK. The crew filmed demonstrations and incorporated them into the movie. For one, Sophie walked through a Manchester demonstration by teachers dressed in black and wearing a skeleton-design balaclava while hidden cameras filmed.

“It was such an intense moment as people kept looking at me, wondering what I was doing. I really thought I was going to be arrested on my first day of filming!” she laughed.

The movie DVD is released on February 24. Sophie is now even hoping to arrange auditions for roles in Los Angeles.

But the future didn’t always look so bright: the former Saddleworth School pupil wasn’t, she admits, a good student and was expected to leave school without passing any exams. The she discovered acting.

Teachers put me on a course at Oldham College designed for 14 to 16-year-olds like me and I started a drama and dance programme. After that my attitude changed, I had 100 per cent attendance and left with all distinctions in my qualifications. It took something that I really loved to get me to focus.”

Since college, Sophie has featured in the BBC’s “Waterloo Road” and BBC soap “River City”