WHEN he is not firing a machine gun at Brad Pitt or sword fighting alongside Michael Fassbender, you will find Matt Morley at Wire Academy.

The 28-year-old set up the acting school at Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub in September and it has now been granted 'Spotlight' accreditation.

That means the academy has direct links to an agency so there are much more opportunities for TV and film auditions for budding actors to make a breakthrough.

Matt, who has more than 70 pupils on the books, said: "We sent some children to audition for Nina Gold for Our Zoo. That was a massive opportunity as she casts for Game of Thrones and some huge epics.

"So for her to look at our children for a drama that was shot in Warrington was great. I also nipped to the unit base for Ordinary Lies and they’ve got all our actors on file now.

"Kids can be great at auditions because they go into it with a sense of fearlessness."

Wire Academy offers children's classes for youngsters aged between five and 16 as well as adult classes.

Matt, from Orford, added: "Our books are open so we’re welcoming people with a passion for acting and we’re a platform into the industry now which is what we set out to do.

"We’ve got 13 students this year who are ready to audition as they have the skills and the confidence. It’s amazing to think they could be on TV soon."

Matt has appeared in numerous blockbuster movies.

The former St Gregory's RC High School played a machine gunner in the German army in the Second World War film, Fury, starring Brad Pitt.

Matt said: "I ended up spending two months on the film. There are some incredible shots. I think you see me get killed two or three times.

"Brad Pitt was on set every day and he’s an interesting man because the Brad Pitt you see in the film is the same man you see on set.

"He’s very internal. He lives in his own space but in terms of the cast around him he was very much the person to galvanise them all.

"There’s a scene where he wasn’t getting the performance he wanted from Logan Lerman so he made him do star jumps and laps of the tank in front of a cast of about 200. He really made a show of him but he did get that performance out of him."

Then earlier this year, Matt shared a beer with Michael Fassbender when he worked in the stunts department for Justin Kurzel's big screen adaptation of Macbeth.

Matt added: "They were some the most brutal fight scenes I have ever experienced. The stunt coordinator said: 'There’s a reason we’ve hired extra emergency teams here. I’ve anticipated the worst. I need you close quarters. I need you going for each other and if any of you let up you’re off set'.

"That was day one! The director wanted to achieve the style of the film, 300, with great big action scenes and these brutal killings as well. It was amazing but a tough job.

"At the end of the week Michael Fassbender was the one handing out the beers. He was a real gentleman on set. He made time for everyone."

Matt was inspired to become a performer at St Gregory's.

He said: "I was in a youth choir and and there were some really good people pushing the arts at that period.

"St Gregory’s supported me as well as they paid for my singing lessons. I found comfort from that level of support so I got involved in the shows and I found a real reward and buzz from performing."

- To get in touch with Wire Academy, email wireacademyofacting@live.co.uk

DAVID MORGAN