John Lewis Christmas ad Scot to star in Pirates of the Caribbean

THE Scots schoolboy who melted hearts in a John Lewis Christmas advert is to star in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Lewis McGowan in the 2011 John Lewis Christmas ad

Lewis McGowan, 11, played a sweet little boy who could not wait to give his parents their Christmas present in the 2011 ad.

As the retailer launch their 2015 Christmas commercial, it has been revealed that Lewis’ career has gone from strength to strength since his debut role.

The primary seven pupil from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, will be seen playing the part of ‘Young Henry’ alongside Johnny Depp in Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

He has already filmed his part in the fifth film in the multi-million dollar Disney franchise after shooting scenes in Australia earlier this year although it is not scheduled to be released until 2017.

His dad Stuart, 42, said: “Lewis’ career has progressed really well since the advert came out and we are very proud of him.

“He filmed his part in Pirates of the Caribbean in Australia earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“His mum travelled out there with him and it was a great experience for him to be in such a big film at just 11-years-old.

“He has done a bit of television but his ambition is to act in film roles so he’s doing really well.”

In the film, Lewis will play the younger version of Australian actor Brenton Thwaites’ character Henry Turner, who sets out on a quest to find his father.

The young actor also has a part in upcoming ITV drama Houdini and Doyle, a 10-part series based on the friendship between Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Lewis was signed up United Agents, the acting agency that also has Ewan McGregor on its books, after he was the face of John Lewis’s Pounds 6million Christmas advert in 2011, which has been watched more than five million times on YouTube.

Following its success, Lewis, who attends Hamilton’s Townhill Primary, won best actor at the advertising industry’s British Arrows Craft awards, beating the likes of Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Spacey.

Mr McGowan and Lewis’ mum Julie, 40, run their own acting academy, UK Screen Acting Academy, and have trained their son for his roles.

He added: “There was huge interest in him following the advert and I imagine it will be the same for the people in it this year.

“The production values and the way it is marketed make it an excellent opportunity to showcase talent.

“It was a great experience and Lewis has a lot of fond memories of that time but he is now moving on with other things.”

In the advert, Lewis was shown impatiently counting down the days for Christmas morning to arrive. When it finally does, he doesn’t rush to open his own presents, but instead dashes to fetch the gift he has for his parents.

John Lewis paid for the family to go to London for the week of filming in summer 2011. Mr McGowan said everyone was walking about in shorts and t-shirts while Lewis was standing in fake snow, dressed in wellies and a winter jacket.