A CWMBRAN schoolgirl has landed a starring role alongside Gavin and Stacey actress Ruth Jones in a new children’s cartoon for S4C and Channel 5.

Sian Bradbury, a nine-year-old pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran, voices the lead character Igam Ogam in an animation series of the same name about the adventures of a prehistoric cave girl.

Although Sian attends Cwmbran’s Nidus Theatre Arts School and has appeared on stage at Newport’s Dolman theatre, the 26-episode series is her first professional acting role.

The nine-year-old from Hollybush was awarded the part after producers auditioned dozens of children in drama schools across Wales.

Despite the stiff competition, Calon TV managing director Robin Lyons said Sian stood out because of her expressive voice.

She began recording at television studios in Cardiff last year and completed the sessions two months ago.

Sian, who has been interested in acting since she was seven, said although she was nervous going through her lines, she soon got over her stage fright.

She described her character as a bit of a tom boy whose always getting into mischief.

“I liked playing her because it was something new and different. I would like to be an actress when I grow up too,” she said.

The only disappointment was the young Gavin and Stacey fan did not get to meet narrator Ruth Jones, but settled for a signed photograph of the actress instead.

Sian said: “My mum always wanted to meet her but we were always just two minutes late.”

Her father Andrew said he and wife Lisa always suspected their daughter had a talent for acting.

“From an early age she could tell you a fib or little story,” he said. “We can lose her hours upstairs because she’s role playing.”

Calon TV are considering making a second series of Igam Ogam and Sian can be heard on S4C this November and Channel 5 in the spring.