Tom reveals his Elvis and his inner psycho

But the actor admits it's the right time to take on the eponymous role in Tommy's Song, playing the housing scheme boy who's cheeky, charming, attractive to women - and something of a psychopath.

Tom was born in Bridgeton and grew up in Toryglen but avoided the working class stereotypes like he would a rabid moneylender.

"This is the closest I've come to going back to the world of Toryglen as an actor," he says, smiling.

"When I went to RSAMD I didn't want to be defined by outside forces. I didn't want to play the drug dealer all the time. I wanted to do everything as an actor, from panto to classical theatre.

"For me, the joy of getting into drama school was the chance to become all sorts of different people."

Tom McGovern can now represent the darker side of the working class community without any fear whatsoever of being typecast.

Since winning the Gold Medal and the Shakespeare prize at drama college he went on to work at the Lyceum in Edinburgh and has had an illustrious theatre career.

He's starred in Hamlet, Private Lives, The Cone Gatherers, in panto , in musicals such as Guys and Dolls. Indeed, Tom McGovern has proved himself a chameleon.

And now he can cheerfully take on the appearance of a housing scheme psychopath.

"Tommy's experience has formed his character," he offers. "Growing up in a Glasgow housing scheme his dad is a violent drunk who beats his mother, and the weans.

"Tommy has been to jail, he's the type who will do hideous things, but somehow he still manages to remain likeable.

"In spite of ourselves, we somehow see the redeeming features in Tommy's character.

The story follows Tommy's adventures over a four week period leading up to Christmas. He and his wee pal Tariq are trying to get money together for the family's presents and they apply for a job with Amazon.

What's the story for the audience? That there are layers to all of us?. Perhaps including a little psychopathy?

"Very much so," says the actor, grinning. "And having read Jon Ronson's brilliant book (The Psychopath Test) you see Tommy is part of that."

The actor adds; "The thing is, in Glasgow in particular, we know people like Tommy. I knew one in particular, a guy who was really charismatic but he could punch people without thinking."

Tommy is in fact a real person. "The writer Lou Prendergast knows him but I didn't want to," he admits.

"And the Tommy stories she tells in her play are all true.

Tom McGovern was gripped by Tommy's Song from the moment he began to read it.

But he was taken aback when he realised it was a monologue.

"To be honest, I'd never wanted to be on stage on my own. I love working with other actors, the camaraderie, the sense of security, the fun of bouncing off someone else."

Tom reveals he worked harder than he did when he starred as Hamlet, which tells a great deal.

The writer asked the actor to learn the piece, all fifty minutes of speech, before coming into rehearsals, so he could then work on the characterisations.

"It was hard," he says, grinning. "I took to my summer house in Perth for two weeks and pretty much got it. Then it was down to devising a way to play Tommy."

What makes the play more colourful - and demanding of the actor - is it's filled with characters, people Tommy meets along the way including his ex-wife, his ex-girlfriend, his parents and a girl in the dole office . . . and wee pal, Tariq.

Plus, he's an avid Elvis fan. Cue for a Hound Dog or two?

"We get Tommy's version of all of them, so that represents a real challenge."

It is of course, but then Tom puts the challenge in perspective. Last summer he didn't work at all because he spent the time in London with his best friend, actor/director/ theatre legend Kenny Ireland.

Tom held his chum's hand before he passed away with cancer.

"He was an immense character," he says of the Benidorm star.

"Kenny had this reputation as being tough and demanding, which he was in theatre because he had such a great work ethic. But he was also a big softy. He would cry at anything."

Tom first worked with Kenny Ireland in 1992 at the Edinburgh Festival.

"He saw me in a play and then cast me as Hamlet. I couldn't believe he was taking such a chance on me.

"Then we worked together year after year and we became close pals.

"At the end, I got to say to him; 'You know, you're the best friend I ever had.' And he looked at me and said; 'Aye, and you're mine tae.'"

Kenny Ireland showed up at every Tom McGovern theatre performance. He would have been at Oran Mor to say his Tommy.

"He would have," says Tom. "And he'd have been making sure I got it exactly right."

He adds, grinning; "Especially all these voices I have to do."

*Tommy's Song, Oran Mor, until Saturday.