Your stories

In 2006, producers of The Golden Compass set out to find an actress to cover the role of Lyra Belacqua, played by 13-year-old Dakota Blue Richards.

The casting agency needed a body double for Dakota because she could only do a set number of working hours.

Nicola acting during The Golden Compass

A friend of Nicola's was working with the film's casting agency and due to her 4ft 10in figure, she was given an audition. Nicola says:

"They did a few test shots, the camera didn't break, they liked me and I got the job!"

Nicola explains what body doubling is.

"Body doubling is being [the actress] but from the perspective of them from the back, hands and feet... anytime you can't really see their face you stand in for those times."

Friendship

Nicola admits she and Dakota got on very well and still stay in touch.

"As it was my first film as well it was a chance to go through the journey together and it was a really nice one. We became very close."

Nicola with a prop from the film

Although she saw very little of the film's big stars, she did have a brief conversation with Nicole Kidman.

"I think [we spoke about] something bizarre like chickens or birds. We were filming the big lavish dinner scene and they used a lot of birds for the food.

"We had a bit of conversation about the birds and how good they looked!"

Find out more about the production of The Golden Compass in our interview with Nicola:

Nicola has also been involved in a number of projects locally.

In 2005 she directed The Diary of Anne Frank at the Nottingham Arts Theatre, which won a NODA award for best regional production.

This year Nicola will direct Little Shop Of Horrors at the Nottingham Playhouse in July.