Robert Stewart (25) from Achray Road in Condorrat will play football legend Archie Gemmell in The Damned Utd which is released in January.

Adapted from the book of the same name by David Peace, it is a fictionalised account of Brian Clough's ill-starred 44 day stint at Leeds United in 1974.

Last year the former pupil of St Maurice's High School graduated from Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh - where he had beaten students from 19 other British drama colleges to scoop a £3000 bursary from the Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust.

Since then, this handsome young man with penetrating blue eyes has chosen to stay in Edinburgh and has picked up a number of roles including that of a policeman in BBC Scotland's ''Still Game'' using the stage name of Stewart Robertson.

But he admits that this is his biggest break to date.

Robert said: "I was honoured to be able to play Archie Gemmell - he is my idol. My only worry is that I wouldn't be able to do him justice."

He was needed for a two-week shoot in Leeds and Chesterfield earlier this year which saw him transform himself into the brilliant midfielder who shone so brightly for Derby County and Nottingham Forest as well as the Scotland squad.

Although Gemmell is often affectionately lampooned for his trademark baldness, Robert was required to don an expensive red wig to accurately portray Gemmell's younger self - plus some outrageous 1970s outfits off the field!

One of Robert's high points was meeting the star of the film who has already earned a reputation for playing "real life" characters such as Tony Blair and David Frost - Welsh actor Michael Sheen. True to form, he plays the seemingly inimitable "Cloughie" and Robert was in awe of the way Michael pulled it off.

"His performance will astound people - he is just brilliant. Plus he is a very nice guy.

"He used to come and have his meals with the rest of us in the cast.

"He is a really good laugh," said Robert.

Despite snatching such a coveted role, Robert knows he cannot rest on his laurels. But he - and his agent - believe he has the right stuff to make a big impact that will allow him to raise his profile through prestige roles.

"I was approached by a number of London firms who wanted to
represent me but I felt that they were more interested in making money out of me than finding me the roles I am looking for," said Robert.

"When I asked one guy about the parts he could get me, he said 'a junkie in Taggart'. I don't want that," said Robert.

"The agent I chose who is based in Edinburgh was different," he added.

"She asked ME what I saw myself doing and she was the one who was the most positive about my career.

"She actually has a five year plan for me," said Robert who hopes to have bagged more film work plus a leading role in a top theatre company by that time.

In the meantime, Robert is working a "podcast" audio drama called Afterlives which is recorded in the Ravens-wood home of an old friend, Greenfaulds High School English and drama teacher Alan McDonald.

The pair met at Cumbernauld Youth Theatre and stayed in touch, hoping that they would be able to work together in the future.

And because Alan penned the villainous character of Nathaniel for Robert, they have been able to do just that.

``It is something a bit different for me and it's a great success,'' said Robert.

Meanwhile he has one solid engagement - after persuading his girlfriend to marry him!

They will wed in June 2010, by which time, Robert wants to have laid the foundations for a brilliant career.

"My aim is just to keep working on the sort of stuff that I want to do," said Robert.

Afterlives can be downloaded on www.afterlives. net