DRESS to impress. That has become one of Warrington actor Craig Davies's rules since he bagged a bigger part in a gangster film in London.

The former William Beamont High and Bridgewater High pupil was supposed to be just an extra in Stitch'd Up but he ended up getting his first speaking role after catching the eye of the director and producer.

Craig said: "I came in a black pinstripe suit so I guess they were thinking: ‘Who is this guy here?’ They called me over and said they were going to write me into the story."

That opportunity opened a lot of the doors for the 30-year-old who has now become a full time actor since giving up his Manchester job in the import/export business.

Craig added: "The next thing I knew I got a speaking role in Corrie and that was only on a few weeks ago in the bistro with Steph.

"My friend’s got 15 years of experience but he said the first time he had a line in a big soap nothing came out of his mouth.

"I felt nervous about fluffing up my line but I just thought of it as any other set and everyone was welcoming. It was a buzz."

Craig was first in the spotlight more than a decade ago when he reached the final 20 in the The X Factor in 2004.

The Kerridge Drive resident was then offered a part in the film Street Dance 2 with Warrington's own Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson.

Since then he has appeared in Emmerdale during the soap's major storyline of 2015 about a helicopter crash during Pete and Debbie's wedding.

Craig also met Wayne Rooney while filming an advert for Man United and he has had small roles in hit shows like The Syndicate and Peaky Blinders.

"I got some acting tips from Cillian Murphy so that was surreal," he said.

"But I always think of people as all the same. Even when I was on The X Factor, in the final 20, I treated Simon Cowell the same way I’d treat my next door neighbour."

One of Craig's biggest opportunities was working with Life's Too Short and Star Wars actor Warwick Davies and Oscar winner Jim Broadbent on Get Santa, which was filmed at Lancaster Prison.

He added: "Warwick Davies was just the nicest bloke and when I was doing table football with my mate Jim Broadbent was doing the scores."

Craig has also been involved with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The film, due out in November, is about New York's secret community of witches and wizards and is set 70 years before Harry Potter's adventures.

Craig said: "I play a New Yorker. They use Liverpool like it’s New York which is a bit weird.

"It’s been mad because they do your hair and costume and then they take a picture of you. Then they’ve got to size you up for an outfit made by tailors from LA.

"They were doing this for hundreds of people. It’s set in the 1920s so they gave us all that hairstyle and look."

Craig was even compared to his idol during his time on set.

When I was getting my outfit fitted the tailor said to me: ‘I’ve been working with a gentleman who’s a bit like you – Tom Hardy’.

"He's my idol so I’d love to work alongside him or be his double. We’re the same height and the same sort of size. My other dream is to be in a Spielberg film."