A bubbly young actress, tipped for stardom after studying at The Manchester School of Acting, has been killed in a crash while trying to overtake another car at an accident blackspot.
Sophie Spencer, 24, was forced to take evasive action when she inadvertently drove into the path of an oncoming Fiat Panda on a country lane in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.
Her silver Peugeot 206 slewed out of control and ploughed into a tree leaving the blonde haired stage and film actress with fatal injuries.
Firefighters used specialist equipment to cut Sophie free from the wreckage but she died later in hospital. It is thought the car she had been trying to overtake drove on after the crash.
Today tributes were paid to the youngster described as a ‘beautiful girl on the outside and inside’, who was a former member of The British Youth Film Academy.
Sophie had previously starred in a string of feature films for the Academy including a movie with tough guy actor Chris Ellison who played Det Insp Frank Burnside in ITV’s The Bill.
In a statement her family said: “Sophie Spencer was a beautiful, caring and selfless daughter and sister with a bubbly, humorous personality.
“She was an aspiring actress, singer, natural performer and attended The Manchester School of Acting. Sophie had a passion to succeed in all that she did.
“Her presence lit up every room and is a presence that will be sadly missed by her family, friends and all that knew her.”
Cheshire Police said officers were appealing for witnesses to the collision, which occurred at 7.49pm on November 24, near to The Wizard public house where locals have complained of a number of other road accidents.
A spokesman said: “It was thought that a silver Peugeot 206 was overtaking a vehicle, but swerved to avoid another car − a black Fiat Panda that was travelling in the opposite direction – and collided with a tree.
“Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed anything in the run-up to the incident or just afterward.
“They are particularly keen to trace the driver of the vehicle that was overtaken, and would urge them to make contact.”
Sophie, who developed her love of signing dancing and acting at Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield, went on to study theatre and performing arts at South Cheshire College and later acting for screen at the Manchester School of Acting.
On a website she spoke of her acting career and described herself as ‘confident’, ‘outgoing and hardworking’.
She added: “I feel I am ready for my career as a screen actress now as well as a stage performer.
“I have good comedic timing and I am a versatile performer, with characters ranging from a teenage rape victim in a short film, to playing an old aged perverted man in a stage production of Between Mouthfuls by Alan Ayckbourn.
“I am a self-taught singer, and won singing competitions since I was 6 years old. Singing is a great passion of mine. Although I am mainly a solo artist I do have experience in ensemble work during musicals, such as Oh what a lovely War and Grease.
“I am a skilled improvisational contemporary and hip hop dancer. I have been technically trained in contemporary, and hip hop is a dance style that I do for fun. Can pick up new choreography fairly quickly.”
A friend of Sophie, Hannah Beaumont, said: “She was a beautiful girl on the outside and inside, a little ray of comical sunshine.”
Michael Bower, 73, who lives near the scene of the crash, said: “My wife heard a bang and then we heard the sirens as the police arrived.
“There were a lot of emergency vehicles. The whole front of the house was lit up with the flashing lights.
“This is a really nasty road. There have been several accidents since we have been here. The problem with the road is there are no overtaking places. It’s so sad – absolutely tragic.”
Andy Scott, 43, head chef at The Wizard pub nearby, said: “We saw the police cars rush down there just before 8pm last night and we thought something bad had happened. This is a bad road. We’ve seen crashes outside the pub here before.”
Story via Cavendish Press.
Image courtesy of Facebook and Google Maps, with thanks.
