It has been a whirlwind year for Highgate actress Rebecca Root, and she is fast becoming one of the most famous faces of the transgender community.

She first hit headlines in BBC Two drama Boy Meets Girl, the first sitcom to star a trans actor, and now she has been walking the red carpet at the premieres of The Danish Girl, alongside co-star Eddie Redmayne.

The former pupil of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts who teaches at E15 Acting School in Loughton, plays the part of a German nurse in the film which tells the story of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery.

Rebecca landed the role back in January after being invited to audition for director Tom Hooper, who went to Highgate School and says it was a ‘dream come true’.

“They were specifically looking for trans actors for some supporting roles and Tom was very open to having a candid conversation so we hit it off immediately.

“They were just very sincere in their desire to hear as many trans voices as possible so hats off to them for giving me that opportunity.”

After landing the part she dashed off to the north for six weeks to film Boy Meets Girl before heading to Elstree Studios in March to get fitted for her costume and wig for The Danish Girl.

“That’s when I met Eddie and we struck up a friendly relationship. He is charming.

“On set I just spent the day chatting with Eddie, Alicia Vikander and Sebastian Koch who were in my scene. “That was an incredible experience – one you can’t buy and I was just over the moon, beside myself.

“As an actor you do have to develop working relationships on the hoof but occasionally you do meet people you hope will become lasting friends and I certainly hope I could say that of Eddie, he’s a really sweet guy.”

Rebecca, who knew from the age of six she wanted to be a girl and began her transition in 2003 undergoing surgery a few years later, adds: “I never asked them if they knew I was trans, it never occurred to me that they would think other of me. I always assume people know.

“Eddie and I spoke about my experience though. If I ever become as successful as Eddie I hope to god I remain as sincere and candid as him because he’s a gem and a great inspiration for me.”

Rebecca admits she had never heard of the story of Lili until cast in the film and adds: “That’s why it’s an important film to make and story to share because I don’t think she is as well-known as some of the other pioneers of the trans community.

“According to Lili’s memoirs she struck up a close personal relationship with this nurse who was there the night before, during and after the surgery.

“Filming those scenes with Eddie did bring back memories of my own experience. I remember a nurse on the ward I was on. She was a black African lady and her name was most memorably, Memory September. She was so sweet.

"Just the fact I remember her is indicative of that patient/nurse relationship that Lili had with her nurse, AKA me. So it is beautifully cyclical.”

Rebecca, who will appear on Celebrity Mastermind on Christmas Eve and in February will begin filming series two of Boy Meets Girl says people have begun to recognise her in the street but adds: “I’m still me. I still work in the Royal Opera House box office on Saturdays as well as teaching drama at East 15 and voice coaching with the trans community.”

But 2015 has certainly ended on a high with Rebecca jetting out to America at the end of November for the LA premiere of the film, which also features transgender actor Jake Graf, meeting co-star Amber Heard and her husband Johnny Depp as well as Chas Bono.

Next was a trip to the White House for the Champions of Change event: “That was incredible. We got to go on a private tour. We didn’t meet Obama but we knew he was around as one point we got held in a room on lockdown by the secret service while the president moved from one office to another.”

She was back in London last week for the UK premiere, walking the red carpet in a vintage gown and posing for photographs with Eddie and her co-stars and says: “It was big deal for me because it was my first time in a big ball gown so I was quite nervous.”

She is delighted the trans community have been messaging their support: “It’s a great privilege and honour to be part of something as high profile as this. It’s another step in the right direction.”

The Danish Girl is in cinemas from January 1.