A former businessman who appears in Ron Howard's F1 drama Rush has talked about life in the fast lane.
Erich Redman, of Isleworth, plays a German journalist in the big screen tale of the real-life rivalry between 70s racing legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
He said filming beside a race track, with F1 cars whizzing past, was a new and exhilarating experience.
"If you're a little bit tired first thing in the morning on set, do this – and it will definitely wake you up," he added.
His previous roles include playing a baddie in Captain America: The First Avenger and a passenger in BAFTA Award-winning 9/11 drama United 93.
Since quitting the world of business nearly 20 years ago, he has worked with stars including Tom Hanks and Cate Blanchett, and been directed by the likes of Steven Spielberg and Sir Richard Attenborough. But it was a special thrill teaming up with Apollo 13 director Ron Howard on his latest film.
"He was a delight to work with. For my second recall I was all fired up to read my scene in front of him, but he just wanted have a chat with me," he said. "I couldn’t believe it: there I was talking to Richie Cunningham from Happy Days. It was surreal."
Mr Redman plays one of a group of Grand Prix journalists who get to know the drivers they write about, at one point reporting from hospital on Niki Lauda's condition after a near-fatal crash.
He got into acting almost by accident after losing his marketing job and trying his hand at first copy-writing and then voice-overs.
As a Russian-born German actor living in the UK, he is used to playing villains, often in Second World War or Cold War films, but says it comes with the territory and is good fun.
He is currently filming Second World War movie Allies, in Derbyshire, and is due to appear in Kenneth Branagh's latest film Jack Ryan: Shadow One in December.
