AN ACTOR has overcome serious illnesses to star in the new film starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Darren Kent, 24, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, played hillbilly Jimmy Esseker in the film Mirrors.

However, it was not an easy ride for Mr Kent as he has battled osteoporosis, arthritis and an extremely rare skin disorder. He said: “I had to brush up on my standard American accent just hours before I had the audition at Covent Garden.

“I was near the end of my studies at the Italia Conti Stage school in London when they got the call looking for somebody like me.”

In the film, Sutherland, the star of US drama 24 plays Ben Carson, an ex-cop dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome, who is haunted by horrific visions in large mirrors at night.

One of the names that he sees in the mirrors is the name of Mr Kent’s character who himself has eight lines in the film.

He added: “Kiefer Sutherland was unbelievable to work with, he came to my caravan to introduce himself and was very sociable throughout the filming.”

Mr Kent was a pupil at Bromfords School in Wickford before his family moved to Victoria Road in Leigh.

He got his A levels at South East Essex College and for the last 18 months he and his family have lived in Westcliff.