AN Ilkley schoolgirl was launched on to the glittering stage of movie stardom yesterday when she was officially unveiled as one of the four leading actors in a forthcoming blockbuster film.

Following in the phenomenally successful footsteps of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, movie bosses have again transferred another children's fantasy story from the printed page to the big screen.

And the four children from this Christmas's eagerly anticipated release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe were brought together in London's Leicester Square for the Tenth Anniversary launch of National Schools Film Week.

The as yet unknown children, Lucy (Georgie Henley, 10), Edmond (Skandar Keynes, 13), Susan (Anna Popplewell, 17) and Peter (William Moseley, 18) will be catapulted into stardom with release of the film.

As previously revealed by the Gazette, Georgie is a pupil of Moorfield School, Ilkley, and a member of the town's Upstagers youth theatre group.

This will be the first occasion the four children have stepped out together in public before the world premiere of the film on December 7, where they will join the rest of the cast - Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winston, Dawn French and Rupert Everett at London's Royal Albert Hall for this year's Royal Film performance in the presence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

"The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" is the first of the seven books written by CS Lewis about the fantastical world of Narnia which the children first enter through a magical wardrobe and where they battle to overcome the White Witch's curse of eternal winter.

They are guided by the noble and mystical lion Aslan who leads them into a spectacular battle to free Narnia from the icy spell forever.

The task of bringing to life the extraordinary world beyond the wardrobe has been entrusted by producers Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media to the Academy Award-winning Andrew Adamson who directed "Shrek" and "Shrek 2" and who has brought his brilliant inventiveness to the film while remaining absolutely committed to the original story. It was filmed in Lord of the Rings' territory in New Zealand.

Upstagers leader Gill Jackson said she was delighted at the success of her pupils. For her involvement in casting Georgie, she has been invited to the premiere of the film and will mingle with the stars.

She said: "Georgie has always had a talent -- this little girl has a lot going for her and I couldn't be more pleased. I'm so proud of her."

Although Georgie will be following in the footsteps of Menston St Mary's pupil Matthew Lewis, from Horsforth -- who plays Neville Longbottom in the hugely successful Harry Potter film franchise -- and will be travelling to America next week for publicity photo shoots, she still remains a member of Upstagers.

She will be rehearsing in the group's Barn premises on Station Road, Ilkley, for her part in Babes in the Wood, a Christmas Pantomime.

Mrs Jackson said: "We missed her when she was away filming. I am delighted for her. It is going to be a really, really big thing -- I just hope it doesn't change her because sometimes these things do."

Mrs Jackson also revealed that another member of the Upstagers has landed a professional contract.

Eleven-year-old Ellie Sager, who will be starring in the pantomime alongside Georgie Henley, has been given a part in a BBC Radio 4 play, which will go out in November this year.

Ellie's mum Deborah Sager, is head of the early years unit at Moorfield School, Ilkley. She said: "I am very proud of her and she is really excited."

She said that the talented pupil of Leeds Girls High School is looking forward to receiving her scripts for the production.