She's Angelina Jolie's doppelganger with undertones of Catherine Zeta-Jones.

She has wonderful auburn tresses, enough smile for two people and hasn't got a bitchy bone in her body. Melanie Bevan is a complete package.

But strangely, come November Melanie from suburban Tauranga will probably be better known to 100-million American households with access to the cable and satellite provider MTV than she is in her backyard of Matua.

'It's crazy – how did this come about?” asks the incredulous 32-year-old married mother of Ezekiel.

Well it came about because she lucked in, did her research and took a punt.

'You have to have some talent but it's who you know,” she says modestly.

Now our Melanie is the leading lady in a rap video movie which'll be released on MTV in November.

That's a big audience, big exposure and a big chance – a chance she even tried to talk her way out of.

'I told them I wasn't a runway model, that I was older and a Mum. But they liked my look.”

‘They' being Won-G Bruny, the American rapper, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He's the founder of Real Sovage, the entertainment, apparel and branding company.

In this setting he's Won-G rapper. And he's the star in his own video featuring, of course, his own music. 'He's an old school rapper” says Melanie.

Won-G talent spotted Melanie on Instagram and for six months they traded messages about options and opportunities. 'I was hopeful but sceptical because nothing was happening.”

A wary Melanie didn't want to be ‘catfished'. So she skyped Won-G, established who she was talking to and did some research. And there was Won-G with Kanye West and Rihanna and Lenny Kravitz. There he was at a big dinner and a red carpet event. He was who he said he was.

Then at 11.30am one Sunday the phone rang from the US.

'I will always remember every second of that call”.

It was a life-changer, it was Won-G.

'He thanked me for hanging in so long and wanted to give me an opportunity to fulfil a dream. He had cast someone else in the video but he wanted me.”

Two weeks later after a whirlwind of international business class air tickets, flash hotels, flash cars and a clothes buying spree Melanie was 'on set” at an old Mexican church in Beverley Hills.

'I play a secret agent, one with a Kiwi accent in an American rap video. It's ‘Da Vinci Code' style. And I got more face time that the girl who played his girlfriend.”

So this self-effacing 'everyday small-town girl” has gone from temping round Tauranga to a gig on Big Wednesday and to the fringe of the US film/music industry.

'It's amazing – and there's more. He's shooting the first of another ten videos in Haiti early next year. I play the same secret agent and I hope they don't kill off my character.”

But talk about money, about pay and Melanie goes coy.

'It wasn't my best day's pay, but it certainly was my best work experience”.

And her feet are firmly planted.

'If this doesn't work, I am over the moon with what has happened. I have achieved my dream.”

And it says something about Melanie Bevan that she is even more delighted her Mum and dad are so proud.