Blinder of a role for Derby’s Sienna
TEENAGE ACTOR TO FEATURE IN HIT BBC DRAMA
A DERBY teenager has landed a role in the hit BBC TV show Peaky Blinders.
Sienna Demontis, 16, has been cast for an episode of the popular programme and will be joining the cast on set on Thursday, April 1.
The teenager recently travelled to Manchester for her costume fitting, which is when things really started to sink in.
The up-and-coming actress and model, of Alvaston, said the opportunity to take part in such a wellloved show was a dream come true.
She said: “I couldn’t believe it. Peaky Blinders is one of my favourite programmes so when I found out I’d be on it I was ecstatic. I was so excited.
“It was so cool when I went to the fitting because when you get there and walk in you see all these people looking like how they would on the show, in these amazing outfits. It was just incredible.
“It definitely made it feel more real getting there and seeing those things, and then the people there were so lovely as well, they were super helpful. So that really helped to make all the nerves go away.”
Sienna will soon get the chance to work with some of the most accomplished and adored actors, who are known across the world thanks to the success of the show.
With Golden Globe nominees and BAFTA winners among the cast, the rising star can’t wait to learn from some of the best in the business.
Sienna said: “I love Cillian Murphy, the actor who plays Thomas Shelby, he’s one of my favourite actors.
“When I found out I was on the show I was just over the moon thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m actually going to be around these people.’
“That’s probably what I am most excited for – getting to meet all the actors.”
Currently cast as a “socialist woman”, Sienna will have no real clue what her role will involve until she turns up on the day.
While she is hoping for a prominent involvement in the episode, she said she is grateful for the part regardless of how it turns out.
She said: “They haven’t really let too much on about what the role is going to be, but we’ll see what happens when we get to set.
“All I know right now is that I’m a socialist woman so it could develop into anything. I’m looking forward to finding out what I get to do.”
A role in one of Britain’s favourite TV shows is just another step in Sienna’s already impressive career, with the actress now lining up a number of new gigs for the near future.
As well as continuing her stint as “lovable nerd” Kara in Amazon Prime’s fantasy series The Luna Squad, she is also setting her sights on several other exciting – but currently secret – projects.
“Today I’m self-taping for two roles in new films coming out. And episode three of The Luna Squad is coming out within the next few days,” she said.
“I also have a big thing coming up this weekend, which I’ll be able to get more info on soon. There are quite a few things I’m working on right now which I’m really looking forward to.”
POLICE are encouraging people across Derbyshire to download a free safety app on their phones to help them feel safe on the streets.
The advice comes following the death of Sarah Everard who died after going missing on March 3, while walking home after visiting a friend in south London.
The 33-year-old’s body was found in woodland near Ashford, in Kent, last week. Serving police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with her murder.
An inquest into Sarah’s death was yesterday adjourned pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
News of Sarah’s death triggered hundreds of women to share their concerns and experiences on social media of walking alone at night and being approached or sometimes harassed by strangers.
And just days ago in a separate incident, Derbyshire police reported a woman had been assaulted along a canal path near Swarkestone. An investigation has been launched. To eradicate concerns as much as possible, police in Derbyshire are encouraging women and men who may feel unsafe to use their phones.
A Facebook post was put up recently by the Wingerworth and Rural Police Safer Neighbourhood Team.
HollieGuard is an app that can track a person’s location as they make their way home, when they’re out jogging or cycling, or going about their day-to-day tasks. If an individual feels unsafe, they can shake their phone to send an alert to a group of contacts to warn them that they may be in danger.
Once the phone has been shaken, it will then start recording both audio and visual footage of what’s happening around them. This will be saved and sent to their contacts so they can see what is happening, and call the police or ambulance service if they are required.
If the phone is shaken again, a flashing light and high-pitched beeping will start coming from the phone to alert people nearby that that the person may be in danger.
The app was set up in memory of 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard, who was stabbed to death in 2014 at the salon she worked at in Gloucestershire by a jealous ex-boyfriend who couldn’t accept she ended their relationship.
Hardyal Dhindsa, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire, said: “This app is all about protecting our communities.
“I firmly believe we can’t do that just by arresting people, we need to equip people and provide more initiatives to do this better, and it is for this reason I am convinced this app will help protect vulnerable individuals.
“We hope people are never in the position but the app is a tool to support them if they ever need it.”
THE UK’s first national park, the Peak District, is set to celebrate its 70th birthday next month with a series of special events.
The Peak District was recognised as the nation’s first national park on April 17, 1951. It was set up as a way of protecting the landscape’s natural beauty and wildlife, as well as to improve the economic wellbeing of the communities who rely on the area.
This landmark moment paved the way for the likes of the Lake District and Snowdonia to be named as national parks just months later.
Seventy years on, it is home to 38,000 residents and attracts 13 million visitors a year.
Chief Executive, Sarah Fowler, said: “The Peak District National Park has been here for everyone for 70 years, inspiring the lives of thousands of residents and millions of visitors.
“Whilst no-one could have anticipated the global circumstances in which we find ourselves looking forward to this remarkable milestone, it is perhaps holding a mirror to the Peak District’s groundbreaking early years as people sought sanctuary within the open spaces that contrasted with our daily and urban lives – just as we are now.
“However we are able to celebrate – either in person or through the inspiring digital spaces available to us in 2021 – I’m sure everyone will want to reflect on the difference our national parks have made throughout the country.
“We remain not only a UK family of cherished places but a global network of protected landscapes enjoyed by communities across the globe.”
As part of the festivities, there are a series of events for people to get involved in.
Celebrations have already begun online with the launch of 70 People for 70 Years.
People will be able to read about historic figures who were key to setting up the Peak District National Park, as well as inspiring personalities who are bringing the joy of national parks to the masses today.
Poet and recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones is creating a series of audio artworks to celebrate the Peak District’s 70th anniversary. Chapter 1, Burning Drake, and Chapter 2,
Snow! are available now. Chapter 3, Kinder Scout, will be released in April.
And Voices from the Peak is described as a “poetic soundscape of word and sound featuring the atmospheres, wildlife and stories of this strange and beautiful land of contrasts”.
Registered charity the Peak District National Park Foundation launched in 2019 to inspire people to explore, enjoy and support the National Park with the aim of raising £70,000 for projects across the area.
The charity is supporting conservation and access projects including: Peak District Junior Rangers, Moors for the Future Partnership, South West Peak Landscape Partnership, Miles Without Stiles, the Monsal, High Peak and Tissington Trails, Stanage North Lees estate, Peak District Mosaic, Accessible Derbyshire, Ranger-led health walks, Fit for Work, Ride Sheffield and Peak District MTB volunteer Dig Days, and a series of Year of Green Action projects.