Actor Brett’s star is rising as he sets out to conquer Hollywood – thanks to a little help from his friends!

Actor Brett King (left) receives his cheques from John Clugston (centre) and David Hooper, External Affairs Manager for the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

ASPIRING Hollywood actor Brett King is heading for the bright lights of Universal Studios in Los Angeles thanks to two £5,000 cheques from the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Henry Samman Fund and Clugstons Charitable Settlement.

The 23-year-old starlet from the Nunsthorpe Estate in Grimsby, will be studying with the New York Film Academy, but will be based at Universal Studios in California, where he will be tutored by Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller, Kevin Spacey and Jackie Chan among others – and in his first week, will make his acting debut on the set of NCIS Los Angeles.

Brett won one of only 16 places, beating 100,000 applicants from across the world to secure his place on this premiere course – but the icing on the cake came in a phone call from Steven Spielberg himself, who personally chose Brett as the recipient of the Talent Based Scholarship which will help to fund Brett’s time in America.

After studying at Grimsby Institute, Brett went on to achieve a 2:1 degree in Drama at Huddersfield University where he won the support of Sir Patrick Stewart during Shakespearean acting workshops. The Star Trek actor urged him to apply for the course in America and has offered help and advice along the way. When Brett lands in LA he will meet up with the star, currently reprising his role as Prof X in the latest X-Men movie, for a coffee and a catch-up.

Brett’s childhood ambition was to be an Oscar-winning actor, but he never thought it would happen. “I come from the Nunsthorpe Estate in Grimsby, it seemed an impossible dream, but now it’s really happening and I can’t wait to go to America.

“Everyone has been so supportive, but without the help of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce and Clugstons I would have had to pass up what really is a life-changing opportunity as I wouldn’t have been able to afford the tuition fees and living costs”.

Hull businessman Sir Henry Samman set up the Fund in 1917 with a £10,000 donation to help support students from the Hull and Northern Lincolnshire area with their education and studies abroad and Brett has received the biggest donation to a Lincolnshire student in a number of years.

Thanking the Chamber’s Northern Lincolnshire manager, Anne Tate, for her support, Brett said: “Anne has been fantastic and really got behind me and tried to help, writing emails to people, inviting me to come along to the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards to network with some senior business people, and approached the local Rotary clubs on my behalf. She was also the one who introduced me to Mr Clugston, whose company is also supporting me with a generous donation”.

John Clugston, chairman of the Clugston Group and a Trustee of the Henry Samman Fund, said: “Anne Tate brought Brett to my notice. We have our own Charitable Settlement and I thought that Brett’s cause was one that needed supporting

“With Brett’s background, I felt it was a really good cause to support and we wish him every success with his studies in America”.
Brett is still seeking more financial support for his studies in America and if any business or individual can help him with a donation, please contact Anne Tate at the Chamber on (01472) 342981