A FANCY international film star strolled into the Fancy Dance shop in Micklegate, York.

Actress Emma Thompson's, actor husband Greg Wise who hails from York he was a former pupil of St Peter's School whooped and giggled with a female pal as she tried on masks and wigs.

Glamorous Emma, who enjoys dressing up her latest role is as warty Nanny McPhee was looking for a child's tutu, possibly for her six-year-old daughter, Gaia.

She walked out not only with a tutu, but a Guy Fawkes hat, three moustaches, funny spectacles, a Viking helmet, face paint, a cat mask and a child's bumblebee dress outfit. Total cost: £140.

"She really enjoyed herself," said Fancy Dance owner, Jayne Mason, who is now entering her shop in the Retailer Of The Year category of the 2006 The Press Business Awards. She is also pitching for the Women In Enterprise Award.

The launch of Fancy Dance in July 2004, was one of the few beneficial things that had happened to Jayne in years.

Soon after the death of her parents, she became a single parent to two children, one of them severely visually impaired, and successfully fought cervical cancer.

After becoming a child minder she decided to launch her shop with the help of Future Prospects, the Jobcentre and Business Link.

Sales of her dancewear plus her fancy dress and accessories expanded so fast that her business outgrew its Blossom Street premises and moved to a shop in Mickle-gate, taking on two staff.

Now Jayne has leased former dance shop, Taps and Tutus, in Harrogate.

She said: "My dream is to franchise out nationally what has proved to be a winning formula."