Leona Lewis has vowed to ''work really hard'' at acting.

The 'Bleeding Love' singer - who stars in the new musical movie 'Walking On Sunshine' - has promised to devote herself to her new craft and wants to work as hard as her actor pals to get parts.

She told The Sunday Express' S magazine: ''I don't want it to be like, 'Oh, she's a musician and she's a bit famous so that's why she got the part.

''I have friends who are actors. They go for millions of auditions and they're having classes all the time, and in no way would I want to take that away from them.

''I want to do the exact same thing and work really hard at it.''

Leona, 29 - who shot to fame after winning the 'The X Factor' in 2006 - has defended her decision to try her hand in the film industry.

She told Digital Spy: ''People always want to get the claws out straight away, but I feel like this film... was so natural for me.

''It's a musical - they want someone who can sing to be in it.''

Meanwhile, the pretty brunette recently left Simon Cowell's SyCo/Sony label - to which she had been signed since the music mogul discovered her on the singing competition - after brokering a new multi-year record deal with Island Records.

Leona has insisted there are no hard feelings between the pair over her move.

She said: ''I was offered another deal with Syco but I thought it was time to have a new team with fresh ideas.

''I have spoken to Simon. He is sad I didn't stay with Sony but he is happy for me and proud.

''He has been so supportive and he will continue to be supportive and I can always call him up for advice.''