Neighbours star Margot's US career takes off

Neighbours actress Margot Robbie has landed her first US role.

The 20-year-old, who has waved farewell to Ramsay Street, bagged the lead role in drama Pan Am, which has been described as a 'sexy soap' about pilots and flight attendants at the iconic Pan Am airline in the 1960s.

Margot - most recognised for playing Donna Freedman in the Australian soap - will play newly graduated air hostess Laura, and starts shooting the pilot in New York in coming weeks, reports Deadline.

"It's really great news. Of course with any pilot there's no guarantee it will be picked up but it has the backing of ABC and Sony," her Aussie spokesperson Aran Michael told Australia's Daily Telegraph.

Margot, who received awards nominations for her performance as Donna, announced last September that she wanted to leave Neighbours after three years to pursue a career in Hollywood.

She will will make her last Neighbours appearance on UK screens next week.