An aspiring actress who was denied a bursary at a college is crowdfunding in an attempt to make her dream a reality.

Georgia Iudica-Davies was refused a bursary at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Wood Green, due to her family’s income.

But the 19-year-old of Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow insists her parents cannot afford to foot the £9,750 bill for the one-year foundation course in musical theatre.

She said: “I don’t come from a silver spoon background and I don’t think it’s fair that I was refused.

“I have wanted to act ever since I went to see The Lion King play when I was seven.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

"I started going to drama classes and reached the final three in an audition to play Nahla in the play in the West End.

“My dream is to play Nahla and this course will prepare me. The support so far has been overwhelming.”

Georgia, who has been performing on stage for the past 12 years, recently graduated from Leyton Sixth Form College with a BTEC in performing arts.

She needs £6,500 by September for the first instalment at the academy and has enlisted the help of her father Yinka Davies.

The 49-year-old who works in a jobcentre is holding fundraising events at his workplace.

Her mother Elisabetta Iudica insists she will do everything to help her daughter get into college despite having an “extremely low income”.

The 49-year-old who owns the Italian Delicatessen in Hoe Street, Walthamstow is holding a raffle and appealing for artists to sponsor her daughter.

Ms Iudica said: “I have always encouraged her because I saw her passion and determination.

“I’m an artist myself and I know what it’s like to want to do something and your parents push you to do something else.

“It was a little bit difficult for dad as he wanted her to be a bit more academic so we sat down with him and she said she wanted to be a theatre actress.

“We supported her and she has never let us down. Since she was young there wasn’t one day that I had to force her to go to lessons.

“It has been hard because the schools are not cheap but we realised it wasn’t a game for her and she has always worked hard.”

A spokesman for Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts said: “Georgia Iudica-Davies has ac-cepted a place on our foundation course in Musical Theatre and had applied for a bursary.

“There is one bursary available per year and it is means-tested based on family income.

“This year it has been awarded to another student. The decision was based on economic need not location.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming Georgia to the course in September.”

To donate to Georgia’s crowdfunding click here