A SINGER and actress would do anything to win a popular BBC TV show. Tara Bethan, from Llansannan, survived the first of the final heats of I’d Do Anything on BBC One on Saturday, and is now down to the last 11. The former Ysgol Glan Clwyd pupil is bidding to take the role of Nancy in the West End production of Oliver. And 24-year-old Tara, who has already enjoyed success with a Welsh language CD called Does Neb yn fy adnabod i, is confident of victory in the show. Trained at Redroofs Theatre School, Tara (real name Tara Williams) has just finished a nine-month contract as a series regular, Nikki, on S4C soap Rownd A Rownd (Round and Round). Her 2006/7 panto performance as the title character in Rhyl’s Dick Whittington prompted The Stage reviewer Victor Hallett to say: "Tara Bethan proves herself to be a superb Principal Boy in the great tradition. She has a strong stage presence, acts well, possesses lovely comic timing and sings beautifully." Her Spotlight CV includes numerous TV roles, including an appearance in Footballers’ Wives, and a musical career that goes back to the National Youth Music Theatre production of Bugsy Malone. The theatrical exploits of Tara are a far cry from that of her father Orig Williams, who enjoyed success as a professional wrestler. Whilst her parents were working Tara was babysat by Giant Haystacks and Mad Monk Rasputin! Tara was one of thousands of hopefuls who began their quest to realise their dreams through a series of regional auditions. The girls were then whittled down to just over a hundred who were called to London to perform before the panel – those who stood out at audition would be given the chance to win a coveted place at Nancy School, the next stage in the competition before being chosen as one of the 12 Nancy finalists. Tara has already been receiving plenty of support from home and a Facebook group – ‘Tara Bethan to win I’d Do Anything’ – has already gathered several hundred members. "The role of Nancy is such an exciting one to cast," comments Andrew Lloyd Webber. "It’s so real, here we go with a role that will speak to a lot of kids today. Nancy is a girl of the street and yet she has a heart of gold underneath it all. We’re looking for a girl who really is a rough diamond." | 
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