Lynsey Trousdale is feeling extra happy after landing a role behind the scenes of a major new whodunnit movie.

Nineteen-year-old actress Lynsey, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, is standing in for the stars as they film an updated version of Agatha Christie's classic mystery Murder On The Orient Express at Horsforth's new Transformer studios.

The £3million film stars Alfred Molina as Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective who uses his "little grey cells'' to solve tangled murder cases.

Lynsey, pictured, said: "What I've got to do is watch all the actors rehearse their parts and when they go into make-up I do their lines so the cameramen and lighting crews know what they're going to do.

"It's been a great experience. I've really learned a lot about how they make films.

"It's been quite hard work getting up really early in the morning to run through the scenes while the actors are still in make-up but it's been fun.

"Standing in for Alfred Molina has been really good. He's a very funny man and not at all starry. He is really down to earth and has a joke and a laugh with everyone."

Former Stage 84 pupil Lynsey has already had extra roles in a number of big budget productions - including Blow Dry, the eagerly awaited new film from Full Monty creator Simon Beaufoy - and she has worked with well known faces such as Warren Clarke and Alan Rickman.

But she said that being behind the camera had been an eye-opener.

"I can really see myself pursuing a career behind the scenes now. It's very interesting to see all the components that go together to make a film.

"But if someone was to offer me a leading role, obviously my first love is acting and I wouldn't say no."

The American TV production is due to be shown in the States in April and could be bought and screened by a British channel by the end of the year. As well as Horsforth, the project will be filmed at locations in Leeds and Bury before moving abroad to Turkey.