A SITE MANAGER for construction works in Wokingham is set to be an extra in the new Rise of The Footsoldier movie, starring British actor Vinny Jones.

Sam Lester, senior site manager at Emmbrook Place, Wokingham, will be acting in the reboot of the gangster-movie franchise, due to be released later this year.

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Sam, from west Reading, said of the week-long experience: “I loved it – a different world, one minute I had my hard hat and boots on, and the next I’m getting makeup put on in the dressing room with all the lights and a massive team putting everything together.

"I took my housebuilding gear off and then I’m in the chair getting made up and then out in front of the cameras. It was quite bizarre but brilliant.

“I’d had a Zoom call with the director and he told me Keith Allen was in it, who was an absolute gentleman, and Vinnie Jones, and so we had a couple of days filming with him too – it was just a fantastic experience.

"A group of guys and I act up in a nightclub and Vinnie, the doorman, comes over and tells us to calm down.

Sam Lester

Sam Lester

"We had various other parts too, it’s fascinating how many scenes they shoot and they probably only use three or four."

Sam, who studied drama while in school in Tilehurst, was on set while the crews filmed scenes in Essex.

He added: "It was a full-on week, but I had a great time with all the actors, they’re amazing and we’d have a drink with them at the end of the day.

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"In between breaks you were just mingling. I was star struck, not only from the film side of things, but as a football fan who admired Vinnie’s career.

"He’s definitely a hard man, but he can be a bit of a softy too. They were down to earth guys, who made us feel so welcome.

"There was no looking down at anyone, it was just a great laugh between good people, similar to being on a building site!"