ACTRESS Amanda Ryan has organised a clan reunion in Calne after landing a role in a film about the importance of family.

The 27-year-old has relatives in Calne, Chippenham and Westbury and is expecting about 30 people at the bash.

Amanda, from London, who has starred in television dramas such as The Forsyte Saga, Poldark and David Copperfield, will host a party at Marden House tomorrow.

Her role in a new film, Sparkle, which tells the story about a man and woman's relationship with their parents, prompted her to get back in touch with relatives. She said: "The role really got me thinking. Families are really important and I hadn't spoken to some of my family for 15 years.

"My world has suddenly got bigger. There has been no feud, we just got into the habit of not contacting each other.

"It is just going to be an informal chat in the afternoon. I've invited aunties, uncles, grandchildren, sisters and brothers.

"If it is a nice day I want us all to play a game of rounders. Something like old generation versus new generation would be great. I'm not nervous about meeting everyone again, it's just going to be really exciting."

Amanda also appeared with Calne actress Romola Garai in the BBC2 drama series attachments and had a part in the highly-rated film Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett.

After attending RADA drama school in London, Amanda had roles in The Bill, Inspector Morse and period drama Poldark.

"I have always been involved in drama groups," she said. "I always wanted to do it, it is one of those things actors just know.

"My three years at RADA were fantastic. I then got myself an agent and was offered a role in Poldark which was a nice one to be part of."

Amanda cites her favourite part as being the one where she played lesbian Sophia in attachments.

"She was a very sassy character and fun to play," she said.

Fans of The Forsyte Saga can watch Amanda in the new series of the costume drama which started two weeks ago.

She plays Holly in this ITV adaptation of John Galsworthy's famous, scandalous chronicle of the English middle-class Forsyte family.

The tale, embracing sex, romance, power and deceit, had previously been a huge success in the 1960s on the BBC.

Series Two is based on To Let, the third book in the saga.