Jennifer Veal living the Disney dream

Buy photos » Coventry’s Jennifer Veal is following in the footsteps of Hollywood’s young stars. (s)

JENNIFER Veal is following in the footsteps of Disney stars Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez as her acting career continues to go from strength to strength.

The Coventry-born actress has swapped the cold British weather for the glitz and glamour of LA after landing a role as British nanny Agatha in the popular Disney series Jessie.

And it's been quite a journey for the 20-year-old, who left home at the tender age of 12 to achieve her acting dream in London.

After making her on-stage debut at Warwick Arts Centre aged just nine, Jennifer was offered one of just 200 places at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School in London three years later.

"I know it's a bit of a cliché but I definitely feel this is what I was born to do," Jennifer, who went to King Henry VIII School told the Observer.

"Leaving home at 12 was a scary experience. I was still a child who was thrown straight into the working environment but I knew I had to grow up quickly.

"I was this young girl from Coventry who had been given this amazing opportunity and there were only two places available so my parents were very supportive."

A string of high profile performances at London's West End followed, including a parts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Billy Elliot.

And now she is cementing her name as a firm favourite with children in the UK and America on Jessie which began last Thursday, having previously played the role of Lucy in Disney Channel UK's original series of As The Bell Rings.

"I was only nine when I performed in Gypsy at the Warwick Arts Centre and little did I know what that would eventually lead to," Jeniffer added.

"I've moved half-way around the world to work for Disney so I feel like I am in a very privileged position, but I have had to work very hard to get where I am today.

"In the future I want to be involved in comedy sitcoms and film, but at the moment I want to enjoy my time with Disney."

Jennifer guest stars in Disney Channel’s Jessie from tomorrow (Friday).

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