AN ex-Wirral Grammar School pupil who dedicates his love of acting to his drama teacher in school has set his sights on Hollywood as he is about to direct his career towards the USA.

Matthew George Walsh is hoping to be signed by Los Angeles agents whose attention he has attracted through 'ground-breaking' projects.

The 47-year-old, a former mental health nurse, who only began acting professionally in 2018, is also about to shoot his latest film, Semolina Pilchard, in which he multi-tasks as producer, executive producer and cast.

Filming is due end in October, ready for a sneaky-peak launch during November’s Big Apple Film Festival in New York.

Matthew has already sold one movie which he produced and performed in, called A Light Through Coloured Glass with award-winning St Helen’s director Mike Clarke and Half Sun Entertainment Ltd. This film will be distributed by Allen Media in North America. 

His upcoming film, Semolina Pilchard is currently in production in Liverpool. A comedy crime drama, it is being filmed in iconic Liverpool locations with an original soundtrack of local well known musicians and huge bands from across the decades.

Matthew said: "We have been extremely keen from the start to offer roles to both new up-and-coming actors as well as well known stars – using as many people associated with Liverpool and its thriving arts scene as much as possible.

"We are thrilled to have secured the wonderful Sarah-Louise Chadwick who co-starred in Liverpool film Kate & Jake and we also welcome the return of Sophia Leanne Kelly from ALTCG, who joins Alina Allison, Gabriella Tavini, Louis Emerick, Jack Ryder, Joe McGann, Daniel Taylor, Helen Fulthorpe, Trevor Dwyer Lynch, Joe Egan, Tina Malone, James Dreyfus and Birkenhead author/actor Richard Isles in the cast, as well as numerous others - all of whom are superb".

Matthew, who is also a commercial model, continued: "I am thrilled to develop another Liverpool-set project to showcase our wonderful city and our talented Liverpudlians".

Matthew was forced to give up nursing through physical ill health, due to late onset spinal deterioration stemming from being 12 weeks premature and believes his background and life skills have helped on his creative journey.

He said: "I will forever be indebted to Wirral Grammar School for Boys and its wonderful drama teacher and director, Geoff Hinde, MBE, who introduced me to the joy of live theatre and encouraged me to volunteer at Everyman Liverpool during sixth form, as front-of-house staff, which also gave me the opportunity to train with its youth theatre".

Matthew also credits the team behind The Actors’ Lab at Media City in Manchester, for encouraging him in developing his training – and especially its director, Liverpool-icon Sue Jenkins (Brookside).

His first tiny role was in his ‘40s, he was an extra in Beatles-themed film, Yesterday – directed by Danny Boyle.

He then moved into theatre, short films and onto feature films, as well as writing and directing his own work.

Matthew said: “I am incredibly excited about the future, I am growing organically as a performer.

"I have projects slated for release into next year and 2026, including a major role in an Anglo-Bulgarian feature film with Cannes Film Festival Winners - ‘Activist 38’.

"It's never too late to change your career and I have a team in LA hopefully lining me up for something big too.

"The world is my stage.”