A TEENAGER revealed her acting talent in a harrowing role in the hard-hitting drama Silent Witness.

Niamh Lewis, 15, from Leigh, earned praise for her performance in this week’s episodes, as a young girl called Cathy Garvey who was abused by her grandfather.

A pupil at Singer Stage School in Leigh, Niamh’s training helped her prepare for the role in the long-running BBC One drama starring Emilia Fox.

Niamh said: “Being on Silent Witness was one of the best experiences of my life.

“I learnt so much and have improved my acting skills since being there. This has been a huge confirmation for me that this is the career path I want to take.

“I was apprehensive about playing the role as it was such an emotional and hard-hitting character to play, who I couldn’t relate to in terms of the abuse.

“After getting an understanding of my role and the background to my character, I found myself excited and eager to play Cathy.

“It was extremely rewarding and pushed me out of my comfort zone and prepared me for even more difficult roles in the future.”

Niamh says she can’t wait to pursue her career and plans to audition for performing arts colleges once she has completed her A-levels at St Bernard’s High School, in Milton Road, Westcliff.

She said: “I have always wanted to perform, since I was a little girl, whether it be dancing singing or acting. I plan to keep going for auditions for new roles and pushing myself harder and harder with my screen acting career.

Hopefully, it will just be onwards and upwards from here.”

Niamh’s agent Sandra Singer said: “We are all very proud of Niamh playing this role.

“It is a very complex and upsetting subject to film, and she did a brilliant job.

“Niamh is without doubt a name to watch for the future.”

The drama, which follows a team of forensic pathologists as they investigate murders, is no stranger to Essex.

In September, the cast and crew were seen on Canvey seafront filming for another episode in the car park of the Lobster Smack and on the beach.

The pub, renamed the Old Lag, provided a backdrop for the cast as they filmed the 18th series of the crime drama.

Jon Rowe, assistant script editor for Silent Witness, said: “The scenes being shot on Canvey formed part of a new Silent Witness story, set in Essex, centering on the investigation into the murder of a young police officer.”

The episode is due to air this year.