Proud Julie's a star for city

Julie Walters described receiving her place on Birmingham's Walk of Stars as an accolade like no other.

The Smethwick-born star, brought up in a draughty end terrace house in Bishopton Road, has come a long way to perform with Meryl Streep and win Oscar nominations.

But when the star was awarded to her yesterday, the 59-year-old said: "This is incomparable, I'm really proud and I'm honoured. I was born here and brought up here and I'm really proud to be referred to as a Brummie, even though I'm from the Black Country."

The star was awarded during a special question and answer session at the Birmingham Rep Theatre.

Among the audience was Val Shepherd, an old school friend of Julie's from Holly Lodge Secondary - another "Holy Liar" as they apparently used to refer to themselves.

Julie's talent has earned her Oscar nominations for the films Educating Rita and Billy Elliot and in the past few years she has been in all of the Harry Potter films.