A LITTLE drama queen has beat off competition from hundreds of girls to be cast as the lead character in a new children's cartoon.

Kisholi Perera-Merry, eight, from Thornbury Road in Isleworth, is to provide the voice of an animated creature in the 52 episode series, Gaspard and Lisa.

Val Weyland, Principle at Kisholi's drama school, Stagecoach, which she attends at Gumley House Convent in Isleworth once a week, said:
"Kisholi is very special. The production company told me they had been searching for months and seen hundreds of little girls but Kisholi was the only one that the American co-producers got excited about."

The series for very young children is to be produced by ImpossibleTV.com, the same company behind hit show The Beeps and is based on a popular series of French books.

Kisholi is now attending weekly voice sessions to record Lisa's dialogue, alongside other voice artists including Teresa Gallagher, the voice of Noddy.

"Her mum and dad are absolutely delighted," said Ms Weyland. "It's a whole new world for them."

The new series should start airing on British television towards the end of 2010.