HE got his major Hollywood break in a Ridley Scott blockbuster - now a Gwent actor is sharing the screen with US rocker Meatloaf.

Caldicot's Ian Virgo, who starred in the $100 million war epic Black Hawk Down, has just finished his latest movie eXtreme dating.

The film is an action comedy and Ian stars alongside Bat Out of Hell rock star Meatloaf, whose film credits include the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club, with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton.

Ian plays one of the main characters, Packer Ellison, in the film, which revolves around four friends who set each other up on extreme dates with the objects of their affections. After a couple of near-successes, they go for broke by planning an elaborate kidnapping scheme that can't miss.

But the hired 'kidnappers' turn out to be ex-cons with a plan of their own...and the extreme date escalates out of control.

eXtreme dating, which stars Meatloaf as a marshall alongside Amanda Detmer, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, John di Maggia and Andrew Keegan, was mainly shot in the Big Bear ski resort in California, and in Los Angeles and is currently in post production editing.

Ian spent Christmas with his parents in Wentwood View, Caldicot, and attended the British premiere of Black Hawk Down in Lon-don on January 17 before flying back to America to make eXtreme dating in February.

He came back to Caldicot for his 21st birthday on May 5 with co-star Amanda, before once again going back to America.

His mother Sue said: "He's been in America since February. "He's constantly auditioning for parts.

"It was quiet for a while after September 11 but now he's just waiting for something to continue with.

"He's done a lot of auditions and has had call-backs but he's waiting for the right role to come along."

Ian has two agent, ICM in Hollywood, and the Paul Telford Agency in London. Mrs Virgo said: "Both agencies are looking for and sending him film castings.

"He's not sitting on his backside waiting for work to come along. "He's out there following on what they pick up for him."