Hugh Grant: The youngsters met the stars on the set

Students from the city's Mark Jermin Stage School appear in the latest British blockbuster, Love Actually, which launches in UK cinemas on Friday.

The romantic comedy stars - among others - Hugh Grant as prime minister and Martine McCutcheon as a cleaning lady - alongside the 25 young hopefuls who form a school choir singing at a Nativity play.

But many will have to wait for a special screening on Saturday because they are still too young to see the 15-certificate movie.

The youngsters were picked to provide the stage roles in the film and also feature on its soundtrack.

Two students, Andrew Phillips, 13, and Amy Gronow, 12, play the parts of Joseph and Mary.

Stage role: Amy Gronow is Mary in the film's Nativity play

The film - with many intertwining storylines about love - was shot on location in London last year.

But the Swansea group had to keep their involvement under wraps until the film was being promoted ahead of Friday's UK premiere.

Amy Ware, 18, from Gowerton, spent a lot of time chatting to actor Liam Neeson during rehearsals.

"He was so lovely and offered me career advice about show business, and was very down to earth."

Other students went to director Richard Curtis' home in Notting Hill to try on their Nativity play costumes.

Mark Jermin said: "It's a great film and who knows what will come of it.

The school, which has 40 pupils, landed the contract after supplying young actors for the earlier Hugh Grant movie About a Boy.

Two other students are appearing in future episodes of the BBC series Casualty, while others are starring in a Russell T Davies scripted film set in Swansea.

The Apollo Theatre in Port Talbot is staging a special screening of Love Actually for the younger members of the cast - who are allowed to attend in the company of an adult.