BUDDING thespian Rachel Dealtry is hoping to cast her frying pan to one side to pursue her aim of becoming a professional actress.

Rachel, aged 26, of Guild Street, Stratford, currently cooks and serves breakfast to the performers in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre's Green Room, where she also washes up and cleans.

But this September she will be off to the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama after winning a prestigious £8,000 scholarship to do a one-year diploma in professional acting.

Single mum Rachel, who has worked at the RST since December last year, was bitten by the acting bug at the age of six and previously did a drama course at Worcester and worked with the National Youth Theatre.

"I have never thought of giving up," she said. "I believe you've got to do things in this life and not sit back and think things have past you by."

The RSC actors she has spoken to about her ambition have been extremely supportive, and RSC head of education Clare Venables helped Rachel to prepare her audition piece for drama school. "They've all been encouraging , inspiring and really helpful," added Rachel.