PEOPLE say that a girl's hair is her crowning glory - but for young Raia Powell, sacrificing most of it was worth it to grace the stage of the Wales Millennium Centre.

Raia, five, from Blackwood, had two-thirds of her hair cut off so that she could play the part of Tam in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of the hit musical Miss Saigon, currently at the Cardiff venue.

And Raia is playing a three-year-old boy - the son of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier.

According to her proud father, David, Raia has the crowd eating out of her hand and fans wait to meet her after the performance at the stage door.

Although she's had no previous acting experience, the Risca Primary School pupil loves being on stage since her first performance last Wednesday.

In rotation with another little girl and until the Cardiff run ends on July 9, Raia plays Tam twice a week.

David, whose wife, Cecelia, is Filipina, said the opportunity had changed his daughter's life.

He said: "We were driving to school one day when we heard on the local radio the organisers were looking for children to take the part of Tam.

"Because she's playing a boy, she's had to have two- thirds of her hair cut off.

"They did have a stand-by ready for her first show in case the noise was too much, and she was a bit nervous as well. But now it's all she talks about!"

Raia even has her own dressing- room and chaperone to occupy her during the parts of the musical where she's backstage.

Mr Powell added: "I'm only 5ft 3in and my wife is 4ft 11in, and although Raia is six in two months' time she's only 39 inches tall.

"There's been a buzz about her since she's been doing it. It has changed her life.

"It is a non-speaking part and she has to keep a sad face all the way through.

"When she first came off we asked her if she knew what acting was, and she said it meant she had to bite her lip so she didn't laugh."

Even the late finishes have not dulled Raia's exuberance for the stage. Mr Powell said: "The show finishes at 10.10pm and she is in the car by quarter past. Within five minutes she is asleep and she doesn't wake until 8am.

"When we pick her up from school she has a little nap, but she has always done that anyway. She has taken to it like a duck to water."

* The production is looking for more Asian or Oriental children to play Tam.

They must have dark hair and eyes, look no more than four or five years old and be under 3ft tall.

Those chosen do not get a salary but will be paid expenses.

For more information, contact Joanne Hawes on 01628 773048.