A father who suffered from depression and substance abuse turned his life around and has now appeared in a Marvel film alongside Samuel L Jackson.

Former security guard Jamie Humphrey, from Sittingbourne, changed his stars after speaking with A-lister Mark Wahlberg on a film set he was guarding.

The 33-year-old said: "Basically it all started when I was doing security for a film on set and I ended up bumping into Mark Wahlberg.

"I started speaking to him, and he asked me what I wanted to do, he's a friendly guy, and I said, I want to be an actor so he said 'Well, what are you doing standing here?'

"I put an ad out on Facebook explaining about my mental health, my ADHD and explained I wanted to be an actor, I'd only been a security guard for about nine months.

"From that a Bengali film maker messaged me, and offered me a day on set. My dad told me to take it, which led me to my first extra plus speaking role."

Also known as Tollywood, Bengali films are an Indian film industry of Bengali-language motion pictures.

Jamie was contacted by casting director Rupsa Banjree in 2020 and was offered a role in the 2021 film, Anusandhan.

But it hasn't always been plain sailing for Jamie.

In 2015 his nan passed away in front of him. The traumatic experience triggered a bad depression and the married dad-of-five ended up turning to drugs and alcohol for four years.

It was with support from his dad, Kevin, that Jamie managed to land the security job. From there, the rest is history.

He said: "When I got that message from Rupsa on Facebook I thought it was one of those scams.

"I sent it to my dad, the audition was in Windsor and he said 'I'll pay for your ticket, go for it, you need to change your life around'.

"So I ended up going, jumping on set, not knowing what to expect as the film was in a different language, but before I know it I'm being directed and told I have a speaking role.

"After, I was asked to meet with a director for my next film and I was offered a main role, playing Richard, in a Nazi film called Swastik Sanket, which is a number one hit in Tollywood, from there my roles have just continued."

Jamie has not only starred in Bengali films but is now filming for Gangs of London and Victor which are due to be released later this year.

He will also be playing the protagonist in a film called Simon which will be made this year.

He was also on set filming for a new Marvel series which is being kept tightly under wraps.

But despite not being able to say much about the project, Jamie couldn't help but be star-struck working alongside Samuel L Jackson, who is playing Nick Fury.

He said: "I'm an extra in a new Marvel series that fans may know about if they keep up with the franchise.

"But I can't say anything on that just yet. However I have spoken to him on set and a couple of the other A-listers, I try and be professional though, obviously not asking for selfies and things.

"I can't say too much though, Marvel are big with their Non-Disclosure Agreements. I can say however that I am also filming Legacy with Joe Egan, who starred in Sherlock Holmes, so that will be good."

Known as Mr Hollywood to his friends Jamie has also been to red carpet events in Los Angeles.

He said: "At the National Social Media Awards I got a phone call asking if I could present an award? And I was like 'hang on a minute, I've got nothing to say, what do you want me to do?' but I just got up on stage and presented.

"Now I've been nominated this year for up and coming actor on Social Media which is happening on October 6.

"It is just incredible because obviously I went from depression and losing everything.

"Now I've even got my kids on set."

Jamie's dad passed away last year, but he always makes sure his father is with him.

He said: "His death is pushing me to take on as much work as I can, but I make sure he still comes with me to my awards and things.

"I've got a bow tie with his face on it and the first red carpet I went to I took a t-shirt with his face on it that said 'we finally made it'."

Although Jamie had some delays with film release dates due to the pandemic, he is constantly looking for work and is now fully booked until the end of the year.

Offering advise to aspiring actors he added: "The only thing I'll tell people not to do is theatre, because if you've got ADHD like me, you're not going to learn your lines.

"There's no point in doing it. Also, don't hang around with the wrong people and never work for free.

"Because if you start working for free people will always try and get you to work for free."

To find out more about Jamie you can visit his Instagram, @jayh_official89, you can also find him on IMDB here.