Cardiff eight-year-old child actor was hailed a star by TV bosses for braving freezing sea waters during Storm Agnes to film a heart-breaking scene

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Cardiff eight-year-old child actor was hailed a star by  TV bosses for braving freezing sea waters during Storm Agnes to film a heart-breaking scene. 

Danielle Waterman had to plunge into the breakers and get submerged for the dramatic footage of child May’s drowning that was shown in the hit BBC1 series last night. (SUN)

Danielle, from Cardiff, battled the elements with veteran members of the cast who described conditions in September as the worst they had endured on the programme.

 HER AMAZING PERFORMANCE WAS LAUDED BY THE he official Call the Midwife Instagram account : “A special shout-out to the brilliant young actor Danielle Waterman who played May’s body-double in those freezing waves!

“Danielle was a real trooper, and she received a well-deserved round of applause from the whole team for stepping into those freezing waves time and again to complete the scene.”

But Danielle, who was kept warm with a hot water bottle and thick coat between takes, said: “It was cold but I didn’t mind.”

Cliff Parisi, who plays shop owner Fred Buckle, needed treatment for hypothermia and Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Patrick Turner, branded the weather ‘horrendous’

Filming on the beach at West Wittering, in West Sussex, was buffeted by 60mph winds that whipped up the waves for Danielle’s scenes where she doubles for May drowning in the sea.

“The whole episode hangs on those scenes and you see her going under the waves and then being carried up the beach,” said her father David. 

“She was perfectly safe at all times and the cast and crew were really impressed with her professionalism. The filming had been very tough for everyone and they checked if she was all right going in the sea because the weather was so bad and she just replied ‘I said I will do it, so I will’.

“It was great for her to be involved in such a high profile drama and, even though she doesn’t get a name credit, she certainly made an impression.”

Danielle and her older sister Charlotte, aged ten, have been blazing a trail by securing roles in a string of high profile TV commercials, theatre productions and a Disney production. 

“They really enjoy everything about acting, TV, stage and film and would like to do more,” added David. “But they also love school and have lots of other interests.”