Teenage Liverpool actress has her sights on Hollywood after being spotted by an LA agent

A young Liverpool actress, Nuala Childs, has her sights set on Hollywood after being spotted and signed by an LA agent.

Nuala Childs, who comes from Lydiate, was in the movie capital filming a TV project when the agent got in touch.

He asked to meet the 14-year-old after seeing her in a short film, I Am Enough, playing a young woman living with bipolar disorder.

Her mum Danielle explains: “In October and November last year Nuala was in Los Angeles filming another small TV project. It was her first time doing anything outside the UK so me and her dad were over there with her.

“While we were there, this well-known and well-respected agent had seen her in I Am Enough and absolutely loved her in it so he contacted her agent at LSI Talent who set up a meeting in person.

“Normally to get noticed by anyone in LA you’ve got to have big credits and Nuala’s not had major roles up to now, so it was unusual. But he talked to her and the next day we heard he wanted to sign her to his agency which has offices in LA and New York.”

Danielle says Nuala is taking the possibility of a big US break in her stride, but it’s still a great opportunity for the teenager to be represented on both coasts of America and to show her talent to casting directors there.

Nuala moved to study at Nazene Danielle School of Performing Arts in Wavertree last April when she’d just turned 14 and hasn’t looked back.

She’s mastered various accents including New York, Russian, Belfast and Australian, as well as British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL).

“She did drama classes when she was younger and always had something about her,” says her mum.

“We never pushed her towards this, nobody in the family had ever done anything like this before so it was all new to us, but she just had a natural confidence in front of the camera. 

“She’s not loud or really outgoing, she’s quietly confident, but when she’s in front of the camera she just has this ability to become the character. 

“When she was younger she’d do little videos on her iPad or her phone, and it was seeing how comfortable she was doing that and how much she loved it which made us look at getting her an agent. 

“She’s done a couple of pilots, short films and she had a small part in The Responder which she really enjoyed doing.

“With I Am Enough, her agent thought she’d be perfect for the role because of the way she’s able to convey emotions and nuances.

“The film has such a heart-breaking but powerful message around the different issues and challenges faced by a group of teenagers suffering with their mental health.

“I think it’s an important subject to highlight because so many teenagers go through it and it’s not always talked about, but in this movie they all come together through song and the creative arts.”

I Am Enough, which is based on a song written by actress and singer Lauren J. Irwin, has already had great reviews and it will go to film festivals this year. 

Danielle says watching her daughter’s performance on screen really affected her.

“I cried when I watched it, seeing her embodying that character and what they’re dealing with.”

As for Hollywood, Nuala is just waiting to see and taking every opportunity she can to learn in workshops and classes.

“She loves acting but she’s interested in directing too, in being behind the camera as well as in front of it, she wants to do it all,” adds Danielle. 

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