She’s been dancing since she could walk, played Matilda in the West End and has scooped more trophies than she can count – and now she’s got another shining role to add to her CV.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Elise with her mum Lauren HarrisonElise with her mum Lauren Harrison (Image: Archant)

All-singing, all-dancing 10-year-old Elise Blake has just starred in the hit musical Gypsy.

But Elise, of Eastern Avenue West, Chadwell Heath, began the show at a huge disadvantage, with only two weeks to learn her part after the original actress dropped out at short notice.

“I was in the show for five weeks,” she said. “I found out I’d got the part the night I auditioned and we started two weeks later. It was so exciting.

“Everyone else had been rehearsing for months, though.”

The show is about a pushy showbiz mother who drives her daughter (Elise) to run away from a show she’s starring in.

The devoted little star took on a four-hour round trip each night to be in the play, which was at the Chichester Festival Theatre from October 6 until November 8.

“It was tiring because I had school the next day, but in the play my character grew up so I wasn’t needed in the second half. I got to leave at the interval – but it was still a long day.

“I’m used to late nights, though, because of Matilda.”

Elise said it was “really fun” working with co-star Imelda Staunton – the illustrious actor famous for her for parts in the Harry Potter films and Sweeney Todd.

“She so fun to work with. The whole thing went really well – I wish it had gone on for longer because it was so much fun,” she said.

“I had to be all cheesy and American. It was so sad when it came to end.

“I’ve auditioned for the BFG film and I want to be an actress. I just want to be able to sing, dance and act.”