A HOLLYOAKS actor has been nominated for an award at the National Television Awards.

Blackburn-born Rhiannon Clements is excited to be nominated for the Best Newcomer of the Year for her role as Summer Ranger in the Channel 4 soap.

The nominations close this week while the awards evening will be hosted at the O2 London on September 9.

Rhiannon said: “I am so grateful, and it was just madness to be up for a nomination for something I always watch.

“It’s lovely to be part of the show.”

She said: “It was so cool and we get to do a press shoot, which is nice because since the pandemic started even for Hollyoaks, we have not done anything like that for it.

“We have to stay in our zones when filming and remain socially distanced.”

Rhiannon grew up in Blackburn and attended Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe.

She said: “Blackburn has such a special place in my heart. It’s a small town and when you go out, everyone is so friendly.

“There’s a real sense of community and I am proud to be from there.”

Rhiannon studied drama at various places including at DACA and the Blackburn Youth Theatre before eventually going on to doing a degree in acting at the Alra North in Wigan.

She said: “It was when I joined the Alra North that I really found my passion, they just seem to really value the authenticity that I brought to the school.”

Manchester auditions led to a two-episode role in Doctor Who in the last series, playing one of the last remaining humans on earth.

After getting the part of Summer in Hollyoaks, she said: “It was amazing when I got the part. You never know in the audition because it all just happens so fast.

“They were nice to me in the audition and when my agent rang me, I thought it was bad news. My mum was chuffed and has always been my biggest support, she was really happy for me and went to ring everyone to tell them.”

Rhiannon was a big fan of the show as a teenager, but after starting work at various pubs, did not find time to watch it again until years later.

She said: “I used to watch it all the time but then I started working and didn’t have time.

“But, I still knew all the actors that I watched growing up and now I’m working with them.”

To vote in the NTAs, click here