Brian Beacom

STEWART Wright’s friends were well used to him slapping around in the mud, making grunting noises and dragging very big men to the ground with ease.

Now, they had to get used to the sight of their chum wearing tights and make up.

Stewart, who stars in The Railway Children theatre play next week in Glasgow, was once a rugby player with a very promising future.

But serious injury put paid to his career, just as he made England Under 18 level.

Thankfully, acting has more than filled that void.

“The acting didn’t come out of the blue completely,” he recalls.

“I had done some acting at school and I really enjoyed it.”

Hammersmith-born Stewart applied for drama college and was accepted.

From that point he worked hard to establish himself, like every other actor out of college.

It was tough. In between acting jobs he worked on building sites. But then he landed work as a line-reader, basically a feed for other actors, and the job moved his career onto a new level.

“The director liked what I did and the result was I landed a part in People Like Us,” he recalls of the 1999 show.

The mockumentary was a huge success and Stewart’s talents for comedy were underlined. Screenwriter Richard Curtis declared Stewart to be his favourite young actor.

He since went on to star alongside Alison Steadman in ITV drama, Love and Marriage.

“I dip in and out of the showbiz fast lane. And that’s okay,” he says, smiling.

What gives him the resolve when he finds himself in the show lane?

Did rugby help build the character to help him stick it out when the work simply doesn’t come along?

“I think it has been a big help,” he says. “It helps you in lots of careers.

“The experience of sport shows the commitment and effort, and passion I guess.

“And some people want to nourish these character assets.”

His first lead role in a TV series came about in 2002 when he starred alongside Sally Phillips in Rescue Me.

Stewart adds; “I really clicked with the director Debbie Isitt who directed Love and Marriage and I went on to do a film with her.”

He adds, grinning; “There are plenty of moments when you don’t click with a director and you’re right out the door.”

Right now, Stewart is delighting in playing the role of Perks in The Railway Children.

E Nesbit’s tale was made into a feature film in 1970 starring Jenny Agutter and Sally Thomsett.

It features the story of Roberta (Millie Turner) Peter (Vinay Lad) and Phyllis (Katherine Carlton), three children whose lives change dramatically when their father is mysteriously taken away.

The children and their mother now penniless, are forced to move from London to a cottage in rural Yorkshire.

It’s there they befriend the local railway porter, Perks and embark on a magical journey of discovery, friendship and adventure.

Perks was played in the 1970 film by Bernard Cribbins and 30 years later the TV movie featured Rab C. Nesbitt star Gregor Fisher as the genial railway worker.

“It’s a lovely part,” says Stewart.

Will there father ever come back? More importantly, how do you get a steam train onto the stage of the Theatre Royal?

“I don’t know if I should tell you,” said Stewart grinning.

He’s right. Let’s not spoil the surprise. Suffice to say the result will thrill kids and adults in the audience.

Stewart doesn’t have all his eggs in the acting basket.

He’s also an accomplished writer who has been writing for radio and theatre over the years, and more recently he has come up with a short film, Knights of The Realm.

“I play a 43 year-old backpacker,” he says, smiling

Stewart loves the idea of creating his own work.

“I highly recommend that to anyone on this path because this is a challenging life, especially when it can mean travelling around the country.”

He adds, grinning; “I’ve been married a few years and we‘ve got a two year old and a fourth month old. I’m in the eye of the storm.”

Stewart however loves the variety of the acting career.

“And I like the fact the jobs come to an end and you are looking for the next thing.”

There’s no doubt one of the highlights of his career has been to star as Dame at his local theatre in Hammersmith.

“I love playing Dame,” he says. Even when he his rugby pals are in the audience?

“Yes, because it makes you realise one minute you’re playing rugby and the next you’re up there on stage making people laugh.

“If nothing else, it’s amazing how it all turns out.”

• The Railway Children, the Theatre Royal, July 4-9.