A YOUNG actor who was bullied in school is now playing the part of criminals on TV.

Jesse Reynolds, 22, recently took part in a Channel 5 show called Young Dumb and Bagged up Abroad, a documentary series about youngsters getting into trouble.

The actor from Old Town played various roles from an American armed officer to a prisoner.

He said: “I used to get bullied at school and acting was a way I could escape by being different people with different stories.

“On the day, we filmed two to three episodes, so I played multiple characters. For example, I played the role of Harry who was arrested and locked up in prison and becomes unlikely friends with his cell mate.

“They had loads of different sets and scenes such as court scene where I had to sit side by side with a lawyer and take the box. There was also a prison canteen and even a prison wedding.”

Jesse has always wanted to be an actor since the age of 10 and has worked hard to reach his goal.

He added: “I have done a bunch of different acting projects from stage to short and feature films.

“My motivation is the feeling I get every time I act, how happy it makes me be in front of a camera, sharing a story through acting, my motivation is having that feeling all the time and doing it as a career instead of coming back and getting straight back to work.”

Jesse struggled to get acting opportunities in Swindon and decided to move across to the other side of the country.

He added: “Being an actor in Swindon can be tough, there are some acting opportunities, but I have never done anything in Swindon myself. Most of my acting jobs have been outside in place like London, Essex, Birmingham and so on.

“There are opportunities out there, but it’s difficult to get to them or to find a platform to be able to apply for them or try to audition. But if you enjoy it and it makes you happy you just have to dive straight in, even though it seems like an impossible career path.

“I actually don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t act. I’m currently a personal trainer at Pure Gym in Swindon so a fitness related career would be good.”

His mother Tina said: “He has always wanted to be an actor and help put Swindon on the map like all other stars who also came from here. We are so proud of him.”

The series is still in the process of being filmed.