A PRESTATYN actress' childhood dream has come true in a new ITV series.

Mum-of-two Nicola Kemp-Simmonds, an alternative provision tutor currently working at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, can currently be seen playing Detective Nic White on six part ITV crime drama The Bay.

The series, which first aired on Wednesday, March 20, follows Morven Christie as Detective Sergeant Lisa Armstrong on the hunt for missing twins in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire and was filmed over two months from October 2018.

Mrs Kemp-Simmonds, who is 47 and also a school governor for Bodnant Community school in Prestatyn, said: "I’m a actress who normally does mostly deep background or some featured stuff.

"But being cast as a detective was a dream of mine from growing up watching Inspector Morse on the telly."

The non speaking role marks Mrs Kemp Simmonds' first recurring character in an entire series after a more than 25 small roles across six years, including for soaps Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, adverts for Skoda and Manchester United as well as in playing the aunt of Keira Knightly's character in the 2019 film Official Secrets.

Mrs Kemp-Simmonds added: "I’ve worked on many different dramas and TV my highlight before The Bay was Peaky Blinders, where I played a Watery Lane wife of one of the Peaky gang.

"My little boy Tyler who’s six thinks I’m a cool mummy because I’m on telly occasionally and he’s my biggest fan. My eldest is 20 and thinks the same, but he’s too cool to admit it."

Mrs Kemp-Simmonds will next appear in a speaking role as 'The Official' in an upcoming Years and Years - a drama set in an alternative future after Brexit , is penned by former Doctor Who screenwriter Russel T Davis and stars Dame Emma Thompson - which is currently shooting in Greater Manchester.