By Cara Sulieman
FILMING for the new season of popular show Skins is underway in Bristol as the new generation of fun-loving teens get to know each other.
And one of the cast is a lucky Edinburgh lass who got the part after turning up at open auditions held by programme makers Channel 4.
Freya Mavor, 17, will play one of the central characters in the new series which is due to hit screens next year.
And she got the part after hearing about open auditions on a bus journey.
Writing on the official Skins website, Freya explained: “I got the part through the open auditions in Bristol.
“I overheard about them in conversation on a bus and thought this was something I needed to be part of.
“I went along, queued for hours, made friends – it was crazy but all totally worth it.
“It’s insane to think I’m in Skins, I’ve always been a fan and I’m so lucky that I’m in something which I’ve always admired.”
Her impending fame is already too much for her family in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh to cope with.
Her father James, 49, said: “We’re new to this and we’re just trying to keep out of it.”
Many of the previous stars of the controversial E4 show have gone on to find stardom after they appeared in the series.
But Freya isn’t the only family member with famous friends.
Her father is a scriptwriter and has worked on a number of high profile projects with Scottish stars screen and literary greats.
Combining his script work with lecturing at Edinburgh Napier University, James has worked on television series The Bill and Monarch of the Glen and is currently co-writing a feature film with Ian Rankin.
And her grandfather was Ronald “Bingo” Mavor CBE, former director of the Scottish Arts Council and vice-chairman of the Edinburgh Festival Council who died in August 2007.
Born in Glasgow, the pretty teen moved to Edinburgh with her parents and brother Alex, 19, when she was just a few years old and grew up in the capital.
She lives at the family home in Edinburgh with her dad James, mum Judith, 52, and brother Alex but is currently in Bristol filming the show.
Skins has launched the careers of many stars including Dev Patel who played Anwar in the first two series and went on to take the lead in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
