Three aspiring Haslemere residents are making their screen debuts in a Hollywood blockbuster and a BBC Christmas spectacular.

Hoping international stardom could now beckon are Michael Nyman, who snapped up two walk-on parts at the tender age of 86 in Mike Leigh’s acclaimed feature film Peterloo, and Abbie Garland and George Merrick-Cunningham, who landed lead roles in the upcoming BBC2 documentary Victoria and Albert: The Wedding.

Vital support was played by Haslemere casting agency A Piece of Cake, whose co-director and fellow town resident Alex Pickford helped put them all centre stage.

Hoping Hollywood now beckons, Michael was thrilled to be selected by the legendary film director to play the part of a friend of the Duke of Wellington, and also the Archbishop of Canterbury in a key House of Lords scene in the drama, based on events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre.

Continuing the local connection, Charterhouse school chapel stood in for the House of Lords during filming.

Michael, who is seeing Peterloo for the first time at Haslemere Hall, when it is screened next Wednesday, December 19, said: “I want the red carpet and an ochestra playing. I’ll be devastated if I find I’ve been lost on the cutting-room floor. Mike Leigh was very quiet, very unassuming and very steely. He quite rightly made sure he got everything just as he wanted it.

“The scene in the House of Lords had to be done about six times. The thing I was most impressed about was the sheer marshalling of hundreds of people.”

Alex said: “Michael is a near neighbour and ever so theatrical. He also writes stage plays. When I was asked to cast older men I immediately thought of him because he’s so talented.

“I had to cast a 90-year-old as a judge in the same House of Lords scene. I found him at a point to point in Godalming last year and signed him up.

“Abbie and George are two of my staff members. They work as bookers. It’s amazing they are starring in a BBC2 documentary. I was asked to cast for it and put them forward and they got the lead roles.”

Historian Dr Lucy Worsley restages the royal wedding of Victoria and Albert in the documentary, due to be screened on Friday, December 21. Each item was recreated exactly as it would have been made in 1840, referring to contemporary newspapers and Queen Victoria’s diaries.