AN ACTRESS and martial artist from Ruthin features in the new Christmas advert by Sports Direct, starring alongside the likes of footballers Frank Lampard and Lucy Bronze.

Karen Campbell, 61, plays a “shadow-boxing gran” in the advert, who starts by boxing a snowman before volleying his head, before later tackling England rugby union international Maro Itoje.

Donning a “white wig with rollers on”, Karen filmed it on a street in London, with the help of some fake snow, across two days in October.

The minute-long advert is titled New Traditions, and ends with Karen asking viewers: “What’s your new tradition?”

It has more than 330,000 views on YouTube since being uploaded on November 21.

Karen said: “I take out Maro Itoje with a tackle – I’m only 5ft 2ins! He just smiled all the time; I’m like a little rottweiler.

“Its hilarious because I don’t look like that really, but I’m OK with it.

“I’m on all of the posters outside Sports Direct’s stores - a lot of people have said I’m like Jake Paul’s new opponent in training!”

Karen’s agent,  JZee Leeming Model and Casting Agency, put her forward for the role, which led to a successful Zoom audition in which she admitted: “I’m probably not the person you want, but I can shadow box!”

Karen CampbellKaren Campbell (Image: Karen Campbell) Filming in London, she said, was a “brilliant experience”, which culminated in her receiving a standing ovation.

As well as being the first girl in Wales to play for a male football team in 1972, Karen has also been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

She added: “Lucy Bronze told me I was probably born ahead of my time – she said: ‘I’d sign you up in a heartbeat if you were a bit younger, Karen!

“It was crazy; I’ve been on Coronation Street, and in some Welsh dramas, but I’ve never done anything like that before.”