East Lancashire actor Paul Simpson fell into acting as a child but now could not be more passionate about his career. He spoke to us about the importance of remaining loyal to his Lancashire roots, juggling family and work and his secret dream to be a "Dingle".

IT was an unknown 14-year-old schoolboy with no intention of becoming actor who first hit the headlines when he was picked from obscurity to play the lead role in 1990s film Nature Of The Beast, set in and around his home town of Oswaldtwistle.

"The funny thing is I only went to the auditions to get out of lessons at school," admits Paul.

"I wanted to be either in the Navy or maybe a chef. I hadn't even thought about acting.

"I just thought is was great that I got to miss art class and get picked up in a posh car and taken to the Dunkenhalgh for the afternoon.

"I was gobsmacked when they picked me for the film."

Now as a married father-of two, Paul has rarely been out of work.

With parts in Coronation Street, Cold Feet and Queer As Folk as well as a string of theatre appearances, he is a familiar face.

Yet at aged 35 he has only just shaken off being typecast as children.

With his baby face looks, he inadvertedly became stuck with several such roles.

"I just always looked so young and kept getting given these parts that were almost 20 years younger than I was.

"I was happy with them but wanted a change," he said.

"Then I was given the chance to play the lead in Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against The Eunuchs - an adult role - and the director found me after the first night and said: 'You will never play a child again. It's a waste.' "I had to grow my hair and a beard - well, as much as I could," he laughs.

"And then because of that I kept getting gangster roles.

"Like last year in Coronation Street when I played the stepson of a girl Steve McDonald was dating.

"He was a real horrible character. I loved it though.

"Villains are my favourite. They are exciting to play.

"You can have so much fun doing things you would never do in your own life.

"One journalist likened me in the part to a Gallagher brother. I was well proud."

Now back at the theatre, Paul's current role in And Did Those Feet at Bolton Octagon is quite different again.

He plays the character of Jim, who is a strong socialist with very political opinions.

Paul appears alongside Jeff Hordley, aka Cain Dingle from Emmerdale, who plays the part of Ted, his older brother.

Paul said: "I like working with Jeff. We have worked together before and have become friends.

"We get on really well and that helps for on stage chemistry especially when you have to play two very close brothers. We work very well together."

But Paul followed Jeff's career before their theatre days after auditioning for the part of Cain Dingle himself and losing out to his friend.

More recently he auditioned again without success for the part of Eli Dingle, currently in the ITV soap.

Paul said: "I want to be a Dingle. I have wanted to for years.

"They look like they have such a great time and they have such good story lines.

"I have been on the telly a lot but it's been mainly bit parts for a few weeks at a time so you can't get engrossed in the character.

"I want a long-running part for a while. I have been so close and now I want it.

"I'll want to arrive as another long lost cousin, with an other biblical name. Maybe I could be called Jesus!"

But as well as his career ambitions, his family and being at home in Oswaldtwistle are top of Paul's agenda.

He said: "When I first went to drama school and moved to London I was told to lose my accent or I'd never get any work.

"But I am proud of my roots and wasn't prepared to do that.

"I was told if I left London and my agency there it would be harder for me.

"But that's not true. Young actors in the north of England don't have to go to London to get work and they certainly don't have to lose their accents.

"It's part of who they are and they shouldn't change that for anything.

"It's sad. I know people I went to college with who have gone into acting and lost their northern accents and what's worse is that they can't even do a proper Lancashire or Manchester accent at all now."

After finishing drama school in London, Paul moved back up north and married his wife, Donna, a teacher at St Anthony's Primary School, Blackburn.

The pair made a home, had two children and have since never wanted to leave.

And with a family home complete with a farmyard of animals - as opposed to a pokey apartment in London, with a window box if they were lucky - who could blame them for staying away from the Big Smoke?

And with home life being high on the list of priorities for Paul, his current appearances at the Octagon as part of the theatre's 40th anniversary season could not be more convenient placed.

He added: "I'm really excited about the series of shows at the Octagon.

"It's good to work with the same bunch of people in different plays for an entire season.

"Plus I am so close to home so it's a big bonus. But then when I finish in the spring it's Mission Emmerdale."