OXFORD actress Florence Pugh has been named among a long list of acting royalty to star in the BBC TV film adaption of King Lear.

The 21-year-old former Cokethorpe School, Wychwood School and St Edward’s School student will take on the role of one King Lear’s youngest daughter Cordelia alongside actress Emily Watson in the Shakespeare play.

Miss Pugh tweeted about her excitement ahead of taking on the role.

Other top Hollywood names which will make up the cast in the Richard Eyre adaptation includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent and Andrew Scott.

Proud father Clinton Pugh, an Oxford restaurateur, said: “It is quite amazing that she will be working with theatre royalty, I couldn’t imagine such an opportunity.

“When she told us, as soon as I heard Sir Anthony Hopkins I just said you have got to do it.

“It will be a wonderful experience and one that is rightly deserved, especially after her role in Lady Macbeth in which she had me thoroughly convinced.

“As you can imagine she is extremely excited.”

The announcement comes after Miss Pugh’s astonishing performance as Katherine in Lady Macbeth hailed her as ‘the next big thing’ and bagged her the Breakthrough Trophy at the Evening Standard Film Awards late last year.

Rehearsals are expected to start in September for the Oxford-born actress before filming in October.