MARCUS Shakesheff has the right kind of name for the movies.

But it is not the bright lights and red-carpet premier and Oscar nights the 24-year-old, from Willow Drive, Underwood, Newport, is after.

He wants to be the unknown stuntman for the Hollywood stars.

Although he did not make it on the big screen, Marcus worked on the set of the last James Bond film, Die Another Day, in 2002, when he briefly met 007 Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry.

And he has already worked on the BBC's popular hospital drama, Casualty, on BBC Wales' drama The Bench, and the long-running Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm.

Marcus has one year left of his three-year Equity stuntman course, which means he has to train five hours a day, six days a week, to achieve his ambition.

Working part-time as a respite care worker, he spends his free time dedicated to training in martial arts, boxing, acrobatics, gymnastics, swimming, rock climbing and horse- riding.

He is also an expert in the Chinese martial art Wu Shu, and is hoping to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the kickboxing category.

Marcus said it was his passion for martial arts which led to his desire to work in the movies.

He said: "I've always loved martial arts, and when I left school I tried working in IT and other bits and bobs - people work for years in jobs they don't like but I didn't want to do that.

"So I thought, maybe I can work in the movies."

He draws his inspiration from Jackie Chan and the first stuntman of the silver screen, the great Buster Keaton.

"I look at the things Buster Keaton did and I can't believe my eyes. They didn't have safety mats in his day."

Marcus is looking for sponsors to help him through the final year of his course. Anyone who wants to help can contact him on 07899 701980 or visit his websites www.marcusmonkey.com or www.marcus.stuntmen.co.uk