A Sequoyah High School junior will make her feature film debut this November in a movie profiling the rise of an NFL player.

Kelly Johns, the 16-year-old daughter of Hal and Cathy Johns of Canton, has a role in the upcoming film, "The Blind Side."

The movie, which will be released on Nov. 20, stars Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron and country music star Tim McGraw.

The movie chronicles rookie Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher's rise from homelessness to being drafted by the NFL earlier this year. It also focuses on his relationship with the Touhy family, which took him off the streets and helped him reach his athletic potential.

Kelly plays the friend of Collins, the daughter of matriarch Leigh Ann Touhy, played by Sandra Bullock.

Kelly said she was excited to get the role, which gave her the chance to speak two lines in the film.

Her agent originally had Kelly audition for the role of Collins, but said after numerous callbacks, she was cast in the role of Collins' friend.

Sequoyah high theater program director Gerald Parker said he was proud to see Kelly cast in the movie.

While the training his students receive at Sequoyah may help his students get noticed, Parker said the determination on a student's part plays a bigger role.

"I think it has more to do with them being motivated to go out and find these roles," he said, adding that Kelly has a bright future in acting.

Some of Kelly's strengths, Parker said, are her singing voice and her dancing abilities.

He also said Kelly has a look that would allow her to play younger characters for a long time, something he said the entertainment industry values.

"She is very talented, and she takes direction very well," he added.

Kelly worked on the set for two days. During those days, she said, she learned how much work - and waiting - goes into acting.

For example, she said it took three hours to film a scene that only lasted for a few minutes.

She said she had a great time interacting with others who were part of the production.

"It was very awesome to be around those people who are so nice to you," she said, adding that actor Quinton Aaron was "one of the nicest people I've met."

While on the set, Kelly said she also learned how to control facial expressions.

Since the camera sits close on an actor's face, Kelly said the slightest quiver or twitch will show up on the camera.

"You have to be natural and not over the top," she said. "It wouldn't look real."

The film is the latest success for the teen actress. This summer, she filmed the TV pilot, "Wildflowers," in which she had a lead role as an aspiring singer.

She also has a part in the new webisode "My Mother/Agent," which will premiere this fall online.

Kelly has had several acting roles at the school and has performed with the school district's Academy Street Theatre Group and at the Blackwell Playhouse, the Towne Lake Arts Center and the Canton Theatre.

This week, she has a role in the Sequoyah High Player's production of "The Diviners."

She's also a member of the school's dance team, student government and the National Honors Society.

As for her future, Kelly said she would like to pursue acting as a career, and plans to attend the University of Georgia to major in theater and minor in education.

If she doesn't make a career out of acting, Kelly said she would like to become a drama teacher "to still have acting" as a part of her life.

Being on a movie set, Kelly said, gives young actors not only acting experience, but also life skills to be successful.

"You learn to mature because you have to be professional," she said. "You have to be serious about it."