A SHORT film starring a deaf six-year-old girl from Upper Stratton has been nominated for an Oscar.

Maisie Sly acted professionally for the first time in ‘The Silent Child’ last year.

Now the feature is in the running to win Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.

She’ll be jetting off to the glamorous ceremony in March with her mum Elizabeth, co-star/writer Rachel Shenton, and the short’s director Chris Overton.

Her dad Gilson said: “We were in London with Rachel and Chris when we watched the nominations being announced.

"We all jumped up and screamed, Maisie said 'I told you!'.

"It's surreal, I don't think it's sunk in yet."

Maisie attends Red Oaks Primary School, which held a special surprise screening of the short film in July.

Headteacher Rachel Surch said: “It’s fantastic news for all of us, we are really proud of her.”

The precocious youngster was picked to play the main character Libby, a profoundly deaf child born to a hearing family who struggle to communicate with their daughter.

She grows up isolated and develops behavioural problems until a social worker played by former Hollyoaks star Rachel Shenton comes in to help.

The film was made to raise awareness of the issues around hearing impairment and improve audiences’ understanding of the condition.

Susan Daniels OBE, the chief executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society said: “What an incredible achievement for an incredible film.

“Rachel Shenton, who has been such a wonderful supporter of ours over the years, should be so proud of this fantastic achievement.

“For the 50,000 deaf children in the UK, and the millions of deaf children across the globe, this film shines such a powerful spotlight on so many of the issues deaf children face day in, day out.

“But just as importantly, this beautifully constructed film also makes the argument so powerfully that deaf children can absolutely achieve anything in life, as long as they are given the right support.”

Maisie auditioned for the role with 100 other deaf and hard-of-hearing children after her parents saw a Facebook post about it and she was eager to give it a go.

The short film has received critical acclaim at film festivals all over the world, including a Best Actress award for Maisie at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.