Leeds — The odds of making it as an actress in Hollywood are pretty slim, but one local family is cheering on one of their own, and the roles are beginning to roll in.

Savannah Lathem, a 12-year-old of Hoover, is the daughter of Gina and Don Lathem. Gina may be better known in the Leeds area by her maiden name, Gina Cooley, and is a former resident and graduate of Leeds High School. The family has deep roots in Leeds and members of Savannah’s family still live in the area.

As for Savannah and her immediate family, they are now residents of Burbank, Calif. going to auditions, learning lines, and practicing the craft that she loves. Her hard work has paid off as she recently earned roles in episodes of “Criminal Minds” and the award-winning 2009 season finale of the hit series “Lost.”

Her success at such a young age has not come without its hardships. In fact, Savannah experienced health problems at birth that could have sent her life in a totally different direction. Savannah almost lost her life after a collapsed lung and heart attack. According to Gina, Savannah’s heart rate dropped to 47 several times in utero and then bottomed out.

“I had to have an emergency C-section. By the time they got to Savannah she had stopped breathing and her heart had been stopped for well over three minutes.

“The doctors said if she lived she would never be a normal child due to the loss of oxygen to her brain. They said it would be a miracle if she lived. She came home four days later and has been a blessing to all who know her,” Gina says.

As Savannah grew, her family noticed her outgoing nature and a gift for performing. Gina said it was those closest to Savannah that encouraged her to pursue the goal of being an actress.

“They saw her performing in plays at home and said she be an actress and really encouraged her. Her aunt Suanne (White) really encouraged her. If not for her, we would not be in California,” Gina says.

Savannah’s path from Central Alabama to California began while riding in the back seat of a car and listening to the radio. An advertisement came over the airwaves announcing that auditions were going to be held by a top Hollywood talent agent.

“She stood in line for five hours and finally auditioned. Out of 2,700 kids who auditioned, she was the only one who signed a contract with Hollywood agency,” Gina says.

Savannah later traveled to Los Angeles and competed in the International Presentation of Performance competition. Despite her lack of professional acting experience, she received national and international recognition by ranking in the Top 10 Best Actress category. There were over 700 young actors competing in Savannah’s age category.

In 2009, Savannah began auditioning for roles in television and feature films. Her first audition for a speaking role was a big one as it was for the series finale of one of television’s most popular shows in recent years – “Lost.” Things went very well as she nailed the audition and got the part.

After getting the part, Savannah was picked up in a stretch-limo and flown first class to Hawaii to begin shooting the episode. She played the role of “Rachel” on the episode titled “The Incident,” which was the second part of the 2009 season finale. That episode was nominated for several Emmy Awards.

Those watching “Lost” noticed Savannah’s work as well. She was recently nominated for Best Performance in a TV Series Guest Starring Role (13 and under) at the Young Artists Award. She attended a Red Carpet-Gala event along with eight other actresses who were nominated on April 11.

Savannah has already gained some hardware for her acting abilities. She received the Outstanding Young Actors Achievement Award at the CARE Awards in 2009.

Her second audition for a speaking role was also a big success as she landed a role in the series “Criminal Minds,” which aired in November.

Gina says she is very proud of her daughter’s successes and that it was made possible through her daughter’s passion and hard work.

“It is a very hard process … audition, audition, audition,” Gina says. “It has truly been a journey. Savannah always maintains a positive attitude about everything.”

Acting is not Savannah’s only passion. She also loves other performing art forms, including point, tap and jazz dancing. She is also a singer and her mother says she is currently working on a recording with a Grammy Award winning producer.

Savannah has also modeled for national and international print advertising for AT&T and J Brand Jeans. She has worked as a fashion runway model for Elite Fashion Designers such as H&M, True Religion, and Ralph Lauren.

Savannah is also a member of Compassion International, which allows her to support and encourage a child from India named Lydia. Savannah has been communicating with Lydia for seven years and hopes to visit her some day.

She is also very involved in raising money for breast cancer research and works to raise awareness for puberty-aged girls, encouraging them to learn about self-breast exams and educating them on the disease.

For inspiration, Gina says her daughter looks to her favorites. She loves watching episodes of “The Golden Girls,” and hopes to meet Meryl Streep, who she adores.

As for school, Savannah does pretty well at that too. She is an honor student through Hope Christian home school in Alabaster.

Acting continues to be Savannah’s true passion and she continues to work. She will be the voice in the feature film “Ramona and Beezus” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” She also played the role of “dead girl” in “The Stepfather,” starring Celia Ward.

Gina says her daughter takes all of her successes in stride and remains grounded through her family and faith.

“She is very thankful for everything that has happened,” she says. “She feels very blessed in knowing what great things God is doing in her life.”

Savannah’s father Don is a 1979 graduate of Pelham High School and went on to graduate at the University of Alabama.

Gina remembers with fondness her childhood in Leeds where she graduated from LHS in 1980 and served as head cheerleader. She also graduated from the University of Alabama and was a cheerleader there in 1982-83 and was a member of the Crimson Cabaret Dance team in 1984-85.

Gina’s large family is well known to those who grew up with them in Leeds. Her sister Peggy, along with her husband Don Sims, still live in Leeds. Suanne and Rod White are in Bradenton, Fla.; Chere Belcher lives in Sarasota, Fla.; Jim and Tammie Cooley live in Trussville; and Tony and Jennifer Cooley now live in Tuscaloosa.

Gina and Don also have two sons. Zack just graduated from Cullinard and Landon is a senior at Hoover High School. The brothers each played fullback for the Bucs and bringing home state titles. Zack also got a taste of show biz as he was on two seasons of the MTV show “Two A Days,” which followed the Hoover football program.

Savannah is the youngest of the children. When she’s not auditioning for her next role, she enjoys spending time with family, friends and her three dogs – Hayden, Missy and Luke.