Samantha finally lets daughter see her film world - with a role in a Hollywood movie

But the Oscar-nominated actress has decided that her daughter's first taste of acting should come in a Hollywood movie.

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In Mister Lonely, tipped for a prize when it opens at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, Samantha plays a Marilyn Monroe lookalike who falls in love with a Michael Jackson impersonator, played by Diego Luna.

The 29-year-old actress made sure that the part of a Shirley Temple lookalike went to her daughter Esme, whose father is the British TV actor Charlie Creed-Miles.

A film source said: "I think Esme had a great time making the film. Hopefully that's something that people will notice when they see the film."

Previously, Samantha has sheltered Esme from showbiz - even refusing to let her watch the 2004 Oscars ceremony in which she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for In America.

She said at the time: "I want to protect her innocence so I keep her away from what I do.

"I don't let her see magazines or newspapers, but I will let her watch when she's older."

Samantha had a less protected childhood. Her parents split up and, at 11, she was taken into care.

Meanwhile, aged seven, she had discovered acting. "I had a brilliant teacher and it was the highlight of my day to write little plays or perform in front of the class,' she says.

At 13, she won a small part in ITV's Soldier Soldier and made her breakthrough at 16, in the hit 1995 ITV drama Band Of Gold.

Now she has two Oscar nominations and this evening is a favourite to win a TV Bafta for her portrayal of Myra Hindley in the Channel 4 film Longford.

And Cannes is abuzz with talk of Mister Lonely. The first film in eight years by controversial director Harmony Korine, it is tipped for a top prize.