A touch of Hollywood swept into town for the day when Bend It Like Beckham actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers popped by for a bite to eat.

The screen star, who played Henry VIII in the television historical drama The Tudors and had a part in Mission Impossible III, was in Rochester for his latest role in a sci-fi movie.

Irish-born Rhys-Meyers filmed a scene at the newly-opened Ole tapas bar and restaurant in the High Street where owner Juan Carlos Bejarano played host for the day.

As well as laying on tapas for the 60-strong entourage of camera crews, production teams and extras, Juan Carlos and wife Maribel Ramirez also landed a cameo part in the film.

Juan Carlos, a veteran Latin American news correspondent from Colombia was approached by an an American producer shortly after opening his eatery in March.

He said: “It was just what he was looking for, the right decor and ambience.

“He liked the fact that I work in media and we talked the same language”.

The restaurant normally closes on Mondays but Juan Carlos brought in his chefs to rustle up a banquet for the hungry diners who spent the entire day shooting there.

He said: “It could have been very stressful making 60 tapas with all the lighting and cameras around, but thankfully it all went well.”

He offered to make the actor something different but said: “He insisted on having whatever everyone else was having”.

He described Rhys-Meyers as “very chatty and very friendly”.

He said: “He personally went into the kitchen to thank staff and said he really enjoyed his food.

“He spends some of his time living in LA and was able to speak in Spanish to us.”

In between filming, Rhys-Meyers strolled out into the sunshine to his trailer and had a coffee while talking to some passers-by.

The film being directed by American Brian Klemesrud, known as BK, is being shot at other locations across the county and in the States.

Juan Carlos, who has in a radio show in his home country, said the production team had come down three times to his restaurant to prepare for the shoot.

He said: “They loved our food. Hopefully, they will come back when the film is out, hopefully next year.”

Rhys-Meyers, who won a Golden Globe for his starring part in Elvis, said he would like to make a return visit to Rochester.