JODIE Whittaker is going to war with the aliens.

And her latest film role in the extra-terrestrial terror movie Attack The Block looks set to gain her an even wider following of fans.

The actress from Skelmanthorpe stars as a trainee nurse in this funny and frightening action film which pits a South London teen gang against savage alien monsters.

A debut film by Joe Cornish, whose writing credits include Spielberg’s Tintin and Marvel’s Ant-Man, Attack, The Block premieres at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, this weekend.

Judging by the initial reviews, the film looks like being a critical success and follows hot on the heels of Jodie’s role as a grieving mother in the highly acclaimed Marchlands TV drama series.

Empire film magazine “loved the hell” out of the 87-minute film and praised its slick visuals and sharp interplay between the leading characters.

However, Jodie fans will have to wait another two months before Attack The Block is released in the UK – on May 13.

The storyline revolves around Jodie’s central character of Sam, who is robbed by a gang of hooded youths when walking home in a scary South London tower block.

She escapes when the gang are attacked by a small alien creature which falls from the sky.

While Sam and the police hunt for the gang, a second wave of creatures falls and the bunch of young thugs become Sam’s only hope.

Skelmanthorpe’s Jodie, whose middle name is Auckland, is a former pupil at Shelley High School.

She studied art and performing arts at Huddersfield Technical College before making her professional debut in The Storm at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2005.

She has quickly carved out a highly successful career with an impressive portfolio of critically-acclaimed film, theatre and TV roles already under her belt.

Her role in the 2006 comedy film Venus, alongside legend Peter O’Toole, earned her a number of nominations for both best newcomer and best actress.

And last month, she was among the Oscar nominees for a short film, Wish 143.

Oscars presenter Anne Hathaway is one of Jodie’s co-stars in another upcoming film, One Day, due for release this summer.