YOUNG Hampshire actress Laura Kelly stands on the brink of stardom.

The 22-year-old from Totton has been chosen as the star of the new £8 million West End musical Mary Poppins.

In what promises to be one of the most lavish shows the West End has seen, Laura will play the lead role of Mary Poppins in the Cameron Mackintosh production.

Laura said: "I am absolutely thrilled at the opportunity I have been given.

"This is truly the role of a lifetime."

Despite her years, Laura is already a veteran of the stage.

She played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady for the last six months, following in the steps of Martine McCutcheon.

She is currently appearing in Fiddler on the Roof in Broadway and has also appeared in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast and Whistle Down the Wind.

Mary Poppins will open at the Hippodrome in Bristol in October this year, eight weeks before its West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre on December 15.

The opening will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the release of the Disney movie classic starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

It will include many of the original songs from the film and has been written by the Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes.

Sir Cameron, said: "When we started discussing the casting of Mary Poppins for the stage we dreamt of finding an actress who was on the brink of stardom but not yet associated by the public with a particular role.

"We are thrilled that Laura has won the part and we feel sure she will bring her own unique quality to this extraordinary and much-loved role."