It's an actor's life for me says '˜gruff' Nick

Blackpool actor Nick Cornwall in Blood and Glory

Nick Cornwall admits he can't do '˜dewy eyed' roles. 'I make my living playing gruff blokes.'

And it’s the best job in the world says Nick who describes himself as a ‘modest actor’ born and bred in Blackpool.

Tough guys, mercenaries, harsh but fair sergeants, heavies - you name it, Nick’s cornered the market.

Right now he can be seen in cult web fantasy series Ren (Mondays 8pm) which has won a wide following since starting earlier this month.

Nick adds: “The character of Ren is played by Sophie Skelton who has recently been seen in a leading role in the successful TV show Outlander, in which I also appeared. It’s generated a lot of interest for Ren.”

The web series is an original fantasy about a young woman who is marked by an ancient woodland spirit.

Cast out from her small village she travels across the land to find the real meaning of the mark she bears.

Crowdfunding has seen season one premiere on the website as well as the Mythica Entertainment youtube channel. It’s an independent fantasy series from producer and director Kate Madison, the creator of the Lord of the Rings prequel Born of Hope which has had more than 35 million online views. The aim for Ren is to become a successful new fantasy franchise.

Nick plays Ren’s father Dagron, a role calling for an actor who could seem harsh but command sympathy. Nick does just that as Sgt Skirving in the international history film Blood and Glory, set in a Boer prisoner of war camp in 1902, and filmed in South Africa, due for release next month.

“Skirving’s a professional soldier, a disciplinarian, grim, hard but never cruel. He treats the prisoners with the same level of discipline as he would his own soldiers.

“There is no good or bad in him only rules that must be followed.”

He’s also in Guy Ritchie’s new film Knights of the Round Table, and a British indie horror project Anomalous: The Birth shooting in North Wales.

“After that it’s costume fitting and rehearsal for a short film Bring Back the Cat - it’s all go! It’s the best job in the world.”

• For more on Ren visit http://www.rentheseries.com. Nick tweets @TheHiddenMirror