The great, great niece of famous Shakespearean actor Dame Ellen Terry is carrying on the family tradition after being chosen to star in the next Harry Potter film.

Katie Head, 11, from Belmont Road in Sutton, beat 250 other Hogwarts hopefuls and will begin filming for The Half Blood Prince on September 24.

The youngster was thrilled to be picked and plans to nab lead star Daniel Radcliffe's autograph.

"If I see him, I will run up to him and ask for his signature," she said. "But maybe not on the first day.

"My real idol is Hermione so I'd like to see her, but there will be thousands of people there so I will have to look very hard."

Katie landed the part after auditioning at Ravenscourt Theatre School Agency in London during half term.

But the humble young star said it was her conversation rather than her acting skills that got her in.

"There were about 250 people there, and in the end they chose 24," she added. "But I think the lady chose me because I was talking to her about Primark."

Before stepping on to the million pound set Katie - a pupil from Woodmansterne Primary School, Banstead - is concentrating on her lead role as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream for the school play next week.

A role Dame Terry played in 1863 at the Theatre Royal in Bath, before going on to star with Laurence Olivier and becoming a Dame in 1925.

Her mother Janet, 45, said the family was very proud of her and that the school had been very supportive.

She added: "We don't know exactly what her role will be yet, but It's going to be something that she will remember for the rest of her life. To say you were in a Harry Potter film, even in a small way, is great.

"I am thrilled, and I think it's quite funny that she starts at her senior school, Overton Grange in September, and now at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well."