At the age of 15 , Lloyd was taking acting lessons at the Italia Conti School in London . In 1986 , director David Leland cast her as Lynda , the leading role in his film '' Wish You Were Here '' . The film was based loosely on the memoirs of Cynthia Payne . Lloyd 's younger sister Charlotte played the 11-year-old Lynda in a flashback sequence . '' Wish You Were Here '' received an International Federation of Film Critics award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival , and Lloyd received widespread acclaim for her performance . Roger Ebert said she was the key to the film 's performance , calling it " one of the great debut roles for a young actress " . Lloyd received the ' Best Actress ' award from the National Society of Film Critics in 1987 , and also at the 1987 Evening Standard British Film Awards . She was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1988
1987 Cannes Film Festival
1987 Cannes Film Festival
Emily Lloyd