Hampshire star hot property in Hollywood (From Daily Echo)

Southampton actor Jeff Stewart star hot property in Hollywood

6:47pm Tuesday 16th August 2011 in News By Melanie Adams, Health Reporter

FROM Millbrook to Hollywood.

It sounds like an impossible dream, but it’s a reality for Southampton’s Jeff Stewart, who has become one of the hottest stars of the silver screen.

The 55-year-old, who grew up in the city, has finally been able to ditch the image of The Bill’s daft PC Reg Hollis and scooped a best actor award for his latest flick at the world-renowned Manhattan Film Festival.

The former Redbridge Community School pupil is now hot property in the US – a remarkable turnaround from just three years ago when Jeff attempted suicide after loveable Reg got the boot from Sun Hill.

Last night he told the Daily Echo that, despite his big screen success, he hasn’t forgotten about where he’s come from, saying “I am still very proud to have strong links with Southampton.”

The movie breakthrough comes on the back of his latest role in Under Jakob’s Ladder, in which he stars as Jakob Seel, a German living in 1940s Soviet Russia.

It’s a far cry from playing clean-cut PC Hollis, as the film is based on a true story of Jakob, who was thrown into a Soviet detention camp.

In reports Jeff said: “When they said ‘The best actor award goes to Jeff Stewart’ a cold shiver went from the tips of my toes to the top of my head and to the end of my fingers.

“It felt unreal and the others at the table were hugging me. I slowly walked up on stage. I said to the audience ‘This is absolutely extraordinary. This is amazing’. I thanked everyone.

“I said ‘It’s been a hell of a journey’.”

For 24 years Scottish-born Jeff played PC Reg Hollis but that came to a sudden end in January 2008, when he was axed as producers attempted to revamp the ailing show.

Such was the shock that Jeff, a former Itchen College student, headed back to his dressing room and slashed his wrists, but sought help before it was too late.

Since then Jeff has surprised fans with a hairy new look in an effort to remove himself as far as possible from such a wellknown character.

The move has paid off, as Jeff is now a sought-after film actor, and has reportedly already been signed up to five other movie projects.

Made in just 21 days, Under Jakob’s Ladder – which won the gong for best film at the festival – is expected to be picked up by a large film studio, and shown at the London and Berlin film festivals.