A YOUNG actor from Inverclyde is quickly making a name for himself in his industry after graduating.

Former St Columba’s High School pupil James Zander, 20, completed an HND in Acting and Performance at West College Scotland and has already starred in a web series and toured with a theatre group.

James always had a passion for acting and decided to pursue it as a career and now he has his eyes on bigger roles in the future.

James met Ronni Menzies-Stirling, a Scottish actor with 20 years’ experience at a job and kept in touch.

Ronni, an assistant producer on the web series Demonologist For Hire, knew he was the ideal candidate for a guest appearance in the latest episode.

James said: “I felt very lucky to be part of the web series.

"Jobs in the creative industries are very limited and competitive to get.

“I had been part of short films for students but this was the first web series and I was really excited.

"I didn’t sleep much the night before filming.

“I watched the series and researched it and I was really pleased with how it turned out.

“The cast was brilliant to work with, the direction was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with a professional team.

After filming was finished James set out to work on his first professional contract, securing a contract to tour with M&M Theatrical Productions as a principal character in their pantomime Peter Pan.

The tour runs until February.

James said: “I was over the moon to secure my first professional contract as a principal character and I am loving the experience of it all.

“Touring different schools has been great and I have had the opportunity to help in different aspects of the show such as putting up the sets and helping with the lighting - I never thought the actual performance would have been the easy bit.

“It has been hard work, but I am loving it."

James is already looking ahead to the future.

He said: “I’d really like to do more in film or television, being part of the web series was great.

“I am hoping to have a few auditions lined up when my contract ends and I have a short film that I’d also like the opportunity to produce at some point.

“I’m hoping to inspire children around Great Britain who want to, to pursue a career in the creative industries to know it is plausible.

"I felt hopeless but you can succeed in this career if you put the effort and hard work in.”