Uxbridge bodybuilder makes big-screen debut in gangster flick

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Tweetatural bodybuilding world champion Nigel St Lewis, from Uxbridge, as Silent Pete in British gangster film, Full English Breakfast.A champion bodybuilder from Uxbridge is muscling his way to movie stardom.

Nigel St Lewis, 33, is one of the stars of British gangster movie Full English Breakfast, which premieres this week.
He plays knuckle-crunching Silent Pete, a fearsome killer and right hand man to 'retired' career criminal Dave Bishop, played by former gangster turned 'celebrity' Dave Courtney.

The film charts the pair's rise in the drug trade, and their battle to stay at the top.
The Trinidad-born muscle man, who trains at the Active4Less gym in High Street, Uxbridge, is the reigning British and World Natural Bodybuilding champion, winning the latter title in Paris just days after shooting scenes for his feature film debut in the French capital.
Like Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, the father-of-one hopes that his wildly successful bodybuilding career will be the springboard to the big screen.
Mr St Lewis, of Ryefield Avenue, Uxbridge, said: "When I saw the directors and actors involved, it was a no brainer.
"I can't really relate to my character because he's naughty. He's there to get the job done, no matter what.

"I have done some acting before, and when I do my bodybuilding, I am on stage in front of cameras so I am not camera shy, but this was a different kettle of fish. I was nervous because I didn't want to disappoint anyone, but it was a great experience and I had an awesome time."

Natural bodybuilding world champion Nigel St Lewis. Some scenes of the film were shot in Wax London bar in Joel Street, Northwood Hills. Kent, Paris and Pinner were other locations.
The ex-soldier, who was born in Trinidad and moved to the UK aged 13, has been competing in natural bodybuilding competitions for the past five years, and has never finished lower than third in a contest.

Natural bodybuilding prohibits the use of performance-enhancing supplements that is commonplace in the most popular form of competitive bodybuilding, and is far less lucrative.

"Natural bodybuilding is considered the underground version of the sport. We can't get as big as the guys who use steroids, but I have never felt the need to take them."

Yesterday (Tuesday), Nigel reunited with the cast on the red carpet for the film's premiere at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square.

Full English Breakfast writer and director Manish Patel, a leading figure in British independent cinema, said: "Nigel was a pleasure to direct and he is going to be a big name. He has the humility to succeed in a very cut-throat industry.
"We wanted a particular look as the character is a man of few words. We needed someone who could convey danger with a stare and Nigel was cast after we auditioned around 18 actors. It helped that he was a bodybuilder too and his physique really added to his screen persona."

With a World Title now under his belt, Nigel says he plans to take some time off from the scene to concentrate on acting.
Full English Breakfast will be released on DVD on April 7.

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