Smiling Sara is face of NatWest

A bank worker from the Black Country is set for fame — as the face of a national television advertising campaign.

Sara Ebrahimi, a 25-year-old team leader from the West Bromwich High Street's NatWest branch, was plucked from a batch of applicants to front the advert for personal accounts and online saving.

Miss Ebrahimi, who grew up in Stoke-on-Trent before moving to Birmingham last year, said: "When you are little you want to be famous.

"You don't know how but you see people in magazines and on television and you think that will never happen to me in my job, but than I had the opportunity to be in the advert and I loved it."

In the 23-second advert, Miss Ebrahami talks customers through the company's website. She added: "You would not believe it. I was there from 7.30am-6pm for a week doing long shots, close-ups, having my make up readjusted.

"It was bizarre, and brilliant too, having someone do my make up and hair and even adjusting my scarf in between takes. It was so hard to stay relaxed with the cameras there."

Miss Ebrahimi, who has worked for the firm for eight years, said she had never had any experience on television before the shoot. "I've only been at the West Bromwich branch since November but I keep having people recognise me," she added.