RISING starlet Emma Rigby is back on home turf after taking the lead role in a US movie about love, life and the lure of acting in Hollywood.

The Eccleston native, whose recent success on the silver screen has also made its way to our TV sets with stellar performances in the final series of Inspector George Gently, spoke to the Star about her sassy role as Summer in Hollywood Dirt.

The film, set in the town of Quincy, Georgia and based on the New York Times best selling novel by Alessandra Torre, follows small town girl Summer Jenkins and Hollywood heart throb Cole Masten, two people from different worlds whose lives collide and start trouble and love for both.

The film, due to be released in September, will also be the first to feature on new online viewing platform Passionflix, which aims to turn bestselling romance novels into movies and television series.

The 27-year-old said: “This has been such an exciting project to work on, Summer plays a girl who isn’t an actress, becoming an actress in a movie, so I’m acting like a non-actor who is acting in a movie within a movie.

“It’s a cool concept and I really enjoyed it. I feel immensely grateful and privileged to have been given the role and it was great to film in Madison Georgia.

“There is also a costume element where I get to dress in 1940s clothing which was fun. It was truly brilliant and an unforgettable experience.

“The author was on set and she said it was as she imagined it would be and was happy with our telling of it, which always means so much.

“I’m so excited for everyone to see it.”

The former St Julie’s pupil, who started her career as an actress in Hollyoaks, added: “I have a lot of opportunities coming my way and I am so grateful.

“George Gently was a brilliant experience for me and a privilege to feature in one of the last ever episodes.

“I am also filming for TV drama Endeavor and have an upcoming trip I cannot discuss yet with CAFOD, which I am so excited for.”

A lifelong Catholic and self -confessed proud Northerner, Emma who attended De La Salle High school will be making a trip with CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development to combine her faith with helping others.

Emma has recently become an ambassador of the charity after reaffirming her faith.

For more on Hollywood dirt visit.alessandratorre.com/hollywood-dirt-the-movie.

Emma’s episode of Inspector George Gently is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.