City electrician tells of 'starring' role with Keira Knightley

Published on Friday 20 June 2008 10:34

THEY are the kind of words which millions of hopefuls long to hear: "you're going to be famous".

But it was the last thing that electrician Ben Kerr was expecting as he went about his work.

The 31-year-old from Trinity was busy working behind the scenes of the new blockbuster The Edge of Love when he got the surprise call.

Ben ended up "starring" alongside Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller in a scene featuring an old-style electric light. He can be clearly seen for five seconds, as well as for longer in the background.

The former Trinity Academy pupil said: "They decided they needed someone qualified to operate the old light to be in the scene and chose me. They just said, 'Ben, you're going to be famous'.

"I think a few of the other electricians on set were a bit jealous – for no other reason than I got extra money to sit on my backside all day. It's fair to say I had to buy the drinks after work."

Ben, who works as a freelance electrician at various film and television studios throughout the country, was working on the film set in Wales when he got the call.

The 31-year-old, who now lives in London, admitted he had yet to see his big screen debut.

"I've spoken to a few people who have and apparently I'm in silhouette for quite a while then you can see me for about five seconds. It doesn't sound like much but it's a start," he joked.

"Seriously though, it's a great thing to say you've done, but I think I'm more comfortable behind the cameras. It was a really nice film to work on and a really close, small crew and cast."

Despite sharing the set with Knightley and Miller, he was relaxed about mixing with the stars.

"I don't tend to get star struck. I think the only time it's happened was when I was working on the set of the film Breaking and Entering, and Sean Penn came down," he said.

"He wasn't even in the film, he'd just come along, so I wasn't expecting it and I'm a big fan."

Ben's mother, Diana, of Trinity, was delighted about his moment of fame, he said.

He missed the film's official premiere on Wednesday night at the Fountainpark cinema complex because he was working on other projects.

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