SHE is a rising star in the TV and film world.

And Huddersfield actress Jodie Whittaker looks set to win more plaudits in the coming months.

She stars in the next episode of the hit series Accused, written by the controversial Jimmy McGovern, which airs on BBC1 on Monday.

Jodie plays the successful professional Emma, who has everything going for her until she takes Liam Black’s (Andy Serkis) cab to the airport.

Emma exchanges pleasantries but Liam is smitten and connives to keep in touch.

Before long, he’s obsessed and weaves his way into every aspect of her life – it seems he’ll stop at nothing to have her to himself.

Meanwhile Jodie also has two more TV drama series in the pipeline and two more films due out next year.

No wonder her family in Huddersfield are delighted and proud of her success.

Dad Adrian Whittaker, of Skelmanthorpe, said: “My wife Yvonne and I met up with Jodie last week in London and it was lovely to see her. She is so busy at the minute, with the film work and rehearsals in Bristol for a new BBC drama.

“We are obviously so proud she is doing so well. Since she left the Guildhall School after her studies at Shelley College and landed that first role in the film Venus, she has hardly ever been out of work, which is great news for an actor.

“We are over the moon at her success”.

In person, the 28-year-old actress exudes an infectious joie de vivre and sharp intelligence – it’s no wonder her star has continued to rise on both television and film since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music just five years ago.

Her breakthrough film Venus, in which she starred alongside veterans Peter O’Toole and Leslie Phillips, earned critical acclaim.

She has recently featured in Nick Moran’s The Kid and will soon be seen in Joe Cornish’s directorial debut, Attack The Block, leading the cast with Nick Frost.

She will also feature in the highly anticipated One Day, by Lone Scherfig, starring with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as well as playing the lead in Harmony, by Dana Lustig, with Dougray Scott and Emilia Fox.

On BBC television, her versatility has regularly been demonstrated in programmes such as Abi Morgan’s Eighties dark comedy Royal Wedding, as well as the acclaimed adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess Of The D’Urbervilles.

Last Christmas, she shone as the repressed young woman Peggy Bell in the award-winning Cranford, alongside a host of British greats led by Dame Judi Dench and Imelda Staunton. For ITV, she starred as Louise in Wired and has completed filming on the forthcoming five-part drama The Oaks, in which she’ll star with Alex Kingston.

So, what brings her to Jimmy McGovern’s and Danny Brocklehurst’s dark tale of crime and punishment?

“Anything that Jimmy McGovern has had a hand in is a huge draw – he’s always generated exciting projects and everyone knows it’ll be a great, believable British drama,” enthused Jodie.

“We shot the film in just over two and half weeks and everyone bonded like a family – we were all committed to telling this incredible story that’s got true heart.

“I still can’t believe how quickly the time flew, I’ll always remember it – it was a really special time for me.

“Working with a hugely talented actor such as Andy was incredible. He’s a lovely man and a pleasure to be around.

“Many of our scenes in the cab were static, with Liam driving and Emma in the back seat, which does make performing quite challenging.

“What happens is the focus goes to their eyes. They’re communicating through eye contact via his rear view mirror.

“It separates them from each other as well as the world passing by outside.

“Their relationship changes significantly when she actually sits next to him in the front seat and is won over by his account of life.”

Serkis, of course, is best known for his computer generated role as Gollum in the Lords of the Rings films.

He also played rock star Ian Drury.