Big leap for Ellie

Ellie, aged eight, she has been cast in short film. Photo by Damjan Janevski.

By Alesha Capone

Tarneit youngster Ellie says she “ran and jumped about the house” in excitement after being cast in a short film.

The eight-year-old said she was thrilled to successfully audition for Monster, a movie made by students at Swinburne University.

In the film, Ellie portrays a girl frightened by domestic violence.

One of her co-stars plays a “monster” who hides under her character’s bed.

“I had to react like I was terrified and breathe heavily,” Ellie said. “It was really fun acting to be scared.

Photo by Damjan Janevski.

“It was really exciting to be on the film set – there were cameras everywhere and tiny microphones were put on me.”

Ellie, who said she hoped to become an actor, attends classes at Adam Turnbull Acting in Hoppers Crossing.

At the age of four, she appeared alongside her older brother in a short film called Spill, directed by Aaron Ellis.

Ellie has starred in a television ad for milk, has singing lessons at school and has modelled for about four years.