THEY will be rolling the red carpet out on Friday as family and friends of Appleton youngster Ruby O’Donnell prepare for her Hollyoaks debut.

After filming since the summer, the 12-year-old will be appearing in her first episode of the Channel Four soap as one of three new characters playing the sisters of Hollyoaks favourite Ste Hay, played by Kieron Richardson.

Proud mum of the Bridgewater High School pupil Vicki said they have been ‘giddy’ ever since they got the call to say she had the part.

She added: “We knew Ruby was a really good singer and dancer but we didn’t know she could act too until recently.

“There were hundreds of people at the audition but when she was invited back a third time we thought this could be it.

“We waited two weeks to find out she had got the part and it felt like the longest two weeks of our life.

“When we got the call I started crying and then we started jumping up and down in the kitchen.

“The more I see the scripts the more I think Ruby is quite similar to her character Peri and I think she’s fitted in well with the family.

“Everybody has been really friendly and made her feel at home.

“I think she would go every day if she could.

“Ruby was really cool the first time we were on set, it was me that was jumping up and down.”

It seems talent must run in the family as her little brother Alfie, aged nine, has also appeared in adverts for Kinder chocolate and Sudocrem and recently made it down to the final three for a part in Coronation Street.

Older brother Billy, aged 14, however prefers to stick to football and playing on his Xbox.

Principal Lauren Kelly at the Little Stars Stage School, where Ruby has been attending for the last three years, said: “Ruby had never done drama before but we recognised quite quickly she clearly had talent.

“I’m absolutely delighted for her and she seems to be having a ball filming.

“It’s what she loves to do and I don’t think this could have happened to a nicer person.”

During an exciting week, Ruby was also performing alongside her fellow Little Stars at the Opera House in Manchester on Monday.

Catch her in Hollyoaks for the first time on Friday at 6.30pm on Channel Four.