TOWIE star James Lock has revealed that he's landed a new movie role after teaming up with an EastEnders legend.
The TV star, who took a break from the ITVBe reality show back in September after 10 years on the show, said he's already auditioned for US blockbuster and TV series.
James, 37, has also enlisted the acting expertise of ex-EastEnders favourite Jack Ryder, who played Jamie Mitchell on the BBC soap, before he was killed off in 2002 in heartbreaking scenes.
James exclusively told The Sun: “ I'm not in any relationship in the minute, I'm just focusing on my acting career and having no distractions, I’m a changed man.
“I’m buzzing to have signed with my new acting agent Independent Creative Management LTD and excited for the future."
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James - who has landed a role in an upcoming feature film - said he's ready to take his acting career to the next level and has even hired a voice coach.
“I’ve had auditions for some big USA blockbuster films and TV series already," he shared.
“I’ve been having one to one acting lessons online with a Jack Ryder he’s brilliant! He’s helping me take my acting to the next level.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actor, way before I was a reality TV star and Towie.
"It’s a life long ambition and dream.
“I know I have to earn my strips and graft from the bottom up and break the stigma of transitioning from a reality TV star to a respected actor and that’s exactly what I’m doing, grafting.
"I’ve got my acting coach and I’m having voice lessons to improve my accents I’m focused on what I want and the future.
"I have been cast in my first feature film, I can’t wait to start filming.”
Back in December, James revealed that he wanted to take a break from Towie after he was left "frustrated" at being dragged into constant drama.
James joined Towie in 2013 and quickly became a fan favourite.
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He was at the centre of a number of dramatic storylines, including relationship dramas, cheating rumours, and bust-ups with friends.
He told co-star Jordan Brook on his podcast, Into The Barbershop: "Obviously it's not a fly on the wall documentary, they don't follow us around.
"When we bump into somebody, like if I had a problem with you and bumped into you, they are not there 24/7 to catch that argument.
"So you have to relive that argument, and by the time you've relived it, you don'always feel the same.
"So you are sort of semi-acting in that environment."
James went on: "I'm also then getting dragged into things and making things and sometimes you have to think about things that you are not necessarily passionate about.
"But it got a point where some of the dramas I didn't care about, I'm in the mix that I didn't care about.
"I was getting frustrated and I think the producers saw I was getting frustrated and to be honest I was overdue a bit of time out."
James was one of the longest-running stars on the show.
When The Sun broke the news of his departure, a show insider told us at the time: “He was due a break as one of the OGs. He is still very much part of the TOWIE family.”
