FOR Bryan Larkin, a fictional catastrophe in London has landed him the biggest role of his career.
The Scottish actor, who has appeared in a number of independent movies as well as TV shows such as Shetland, Outlander, Doctors, River City, Shetland and Rebus, among others, has a significant role in a major Hollywood film for the first time, as he clashes with terrorists in London Has Fallen.
Larkin, raised in East Kilbride but born in the east end of Glasgow, appears in the film with Scottish actor Gerard Butler, the star who is reprising his role of Secret Service agent Mike Banning, which he played in 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen.
Olympus Has Fallen depicted a terrorist attack on the White House, and made more than £100 million at the box office.
In London Has Fallen, Larkin plays Lt. Will Davis, a Scot who aids Butler’s fight against terrorists in Westminster.
The movie also stars Morgan Freeman as Vice President of the US, Aaron Eckhart as President of the US and Angela Bassett as the director of the Secret Service.
Larkin, now based in London, said: "It feels good, but the truth is it's just good to be considered worthy to be working with the big names.
"It's validation for all the years of struggle I've gone through.
"But in the end it is always about the work. The quality of the work, who is involved."
Initially the role was written with an accent of a “posh English guy”, the actor, who studied drama at Langside College, said.
“When I arrived on set,” he said, “the director, Babak Najafi, asked if he could hear me say the lines in my own accent.
“He thought it sounded raw and more energetic, more commanding.
“And, being a Scot himself, Gerard thought it was a great idea.
“He is incredible to work with.”
In the movie, the British Prime Minister has died under mysterious circumstances.
At his state funeral, terrorists strike on London.
The double Scottish Bafta winner said he hopes a prominent role in a Hollywood blockbuster could be the high profile movie role he has been searching for since he began his acting career in 2002.
He says: "In some ways I wish I was where I am now five or ten years ago, but I would not have anywhere near the same body of work.
"The diversity of roles in indie film and TV has been very challenging.
"If I hadn't struggled as an actor the way I have, those roles would have gone to someone else. I've been lucky enough to work in America, Canada and across the UK on low budget films."
Larkin said that as a child, he did not imagine he would be an actor, as he was shy, and bullied.
He said: "I always loved movies and the thrill of going to the cinema as a child.
"The Rocky movie inspired me because I was bullied at school and was a bit of a loner.
"I was never good with crowds and developed a huge fear of speaking in class when I was in primary school. I was a terrible reader so acting was farthest from my ambitions."
He added: "I took up weight training and athletics and was on the path of becoming a body-builder, but fell into acting after joining a drama workshop at Strathclyde Theatre Group to try and build my confidence and immediately got a huge buzz out of it."
Larkin will attend the world premiere of London Has Fallen on March 1 in Los Angeles.
It is released in UK cinemas on March 4.
After studying drama and performing in theatre, Larkin made short films as well as appearing on TV and in films.
He won a Scottish Bafta for Running in Traffic, made in 2009, as well as a Trailblazer award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
He also won a Scottish Bafta for his performance in the short film Scene, in 2006.
Other films he has appeared in include The Red Machine, Battleground, and Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz.
In the successful TV series Outlander, based on the books by Diana Gabaldon, he played the character of Geordie.
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