HE has dreamed of treading the boards of Broadway for most of his life, even turning his bedroom into a replica of the Big Apple.

His apparently far-fetched fantasy has now become a reality after Jamie Carter, of Penhill, was this month accepted to one of the world’s most prestigious acting schools, the New York Film Academy.

The 18-year-old New College student attended NYFA’s high-pressured auditions in London along with hundreds of aspiring thespians.

Within minutes of being ushered into a plush hotel room in the city, he had the two casting directors in stitches during a particularly hysterical rendition of Matilda the Musical’s Telly.

Despite this, the performing arts pupil held very little hope of being successful.

And yet just a few days later he was officially offered a place on the two-year course along with a $10,000 scholarship for good measure.

“I purely went in for the experience,” he said. “I thought ‘It’s just not going to happen for me this year.’ It was a complete shock. Words can’t describe how happy I am.”

He added: “Last year they only picked two people from the whole of the UK. I sang a song from Cinderella, it’s a new musical which I saw on Broadway last summer, a song from Matilda and a monologue from The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

Being the very last candidate to come face to face with the judges on a Saturday night at 9.30pm slightly shook his habitual confidence.

“I was panicking and I was shaking outside,” he said. “They had a camera set up and I did the songs and monologue back to back.

“When I performed my second song they burst out laughing. Their laughter broke the serious tension.”

Jamie began performing at the age of 13 after joining a community centre drama group. He went on to take part in the Wyvern Theatre’s Summer Youth Project three times.

His mother Julie said she still could not believe her little boy would be flying the nest next September.

“He has always loved performing,” she said. “It’s all he has ever wanted to do. We are so proud of him but I don’t want him to go now.”

The nerve-wracking audition turned out to be the least of Jamie’s troubles as, in spite of receiving generous funding from NYFA, he faces a bill of $18,000 to cover his tuition fees each semester.

“I was lucky to win a talent-based scholarship but I can’t go out there and live out there without an extra funding source,” added Jamie. “I desperately need more money. I really love to perform. I just need some help.”

To help Jamie realise his dream to study acting in New York email jamie.carter1995@hotmail.co.uk or contact New College on 01793 611470.