IF it’s inspiration these budding young actors are looking for, it doesn’t come much better than this.

While Corfe Mullen sisters Ruby and Florence Wilkinson are just starting out in their careers, their Uncle Christian is accepting a coveted Oscar.

Corfe Hills pupil Ruby, 15, is eagerly awaiting the results of an audition with the National Youth Theatre and 12-year-old Allenbourn student Florence has already been to the cinema to see herself on screen in Never Let Me Go, starring Keira Knightley.

Their uncle is former Bournemouth School pupil Christian Bale, who picked up the Oscar for best supporting actor for his acclaimed performance in The Fighter.

“We’re hoping it’s in the genes,” said their mum, Sharon, Christian’s sister. “I’m very proud of them and we are all obviously really pleased for Christian – it’s fantastic news for him.”

Sharon said their mother, Jenny, who lives in Southbourne, called her early yesterday morning after the result had been announced.

“She just said: ‘He’s got it’ and I turned on the television and saw him on all the breakfast TV programmes.”

Christian was at Bournemouth School when he landed his breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg’s 1987 blockbuster Empire of the Sun.

Bournemouth School deputy head Will Pyke, who taught Christian in the late 1980s, said: “I’m delighted for Christian. He is one of our most successful former students and I’ve been tracking his career for many years. “While he was at Bournemouth School, Christian was very busy, successfully managing to juggle his GCSEs with his film work. I’m now looking forward to when he gets his next Oscar for best leading actor.”

A keen eco activist and martial arts enthusiast, Bale also starred in the Batman films and American Psycho.