A GLASGOW schoolgirl who landed a role on the new David Tennant crime series has been praised for her acting talent, with TV bosses describing her as a “force of nature."

Felicity Keenan, 6, was chosen to play Iris, one of Tennant’s on-screen three daughters in the hit Channel Four murder mystery drama Deadwater Fell, which has received critical acclaim.

Felicity was put forward for an audition last spring by the city-centre based UK TheatreSchool which she attends on a weekly basis.

She took part in 17 days of filming which took place in the East Ayrshire village of Dunlop, which was the setting for the thriller’s fictional community of Kirkdarroch. Other big names in the cast included award-winning actresses Cush Jumbo and Maureen Beattie.

Read more: TV review: David Tennant drama packs an emotional punch 

The schoolgirl worked closely with the entire cast but particularly with former Dr Who star Tennant who is the central character in the mystery, telling the story of a seemingly happy family found murdered after a devastating house fire.

Glasgow Times:

When they had completed filming last summer, the production’s award-winning director Lynsey Miller presented Felicity with a card, thanking her for her input and describing her as “superstar” and a “force of nature”.

Felicity who lives at home in Glasgow with mum Kerry, dad Sean and big sister Philippa described the filming and production days as “so interesting and brilliant fun”.

Mum Kerry said: “We are very proud of Felicity’s achievement in both securing the role and then completing the filming. David Tenant and all the main actors were so kind and supportive to Felicity and the other children who were working on the programme.

"It was sweet of the director to present her with such a lovely card. It’s one to treasure in the memory box.

“It’s been a really exciting couple of weeks in the run-up to the programme being aired. We’ve been excited, as have all our friends and extended family. Because of the nature of the programme and because it’s on after the watershed we’ve only been able to show Felicity a few scenes and snippets where she appeared but she’s happy with that.”

She has been attending the school for two years and in June was given the school’s Outstanding Achievement Award for her efforts in her performing arts course.

UKTheatreSchool has its own in-house casting agency which works with major production companies to place its students in TV shows, movie, radio programmes and advertising campaigns.

Glasgow Times:

Sixteen of its pupils took part in the Celtic FC Christmas charity single and video which went viral and notched up more than a million views.

Other pupils in the past have appeared in productions alongside the likes of Michael Buble, Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, James McAvoy, Peter Mullan and David Walliams.

Glasgow Times:

School principal Lizanne Lambie Thomson described Felicity’s appearance in “Deadwater Fell” as brilliant and said: “For someone like Felicity who has shown such a natural talent for the performing arts taking part in a big production like this gives her amazing experience.

“Felicity has worked very hard in her theatre school classes and is a highly-regarded student. We’re delighted to see the outcome of her work and we’ve been glued to the TV set watching it every week.”

UKTheatreSchool, based in West Regent Street, has around 700 students on its roll offering performing arts courses for students aged between four and 19. The school has charity status, which allows it to also offer support for any underprivileged youngsters who show potential talent in the arts.