A WEST Dorset actor who had a brush with death is celebrating after the film he starred in was named the best movie of the past year.

James Osborne, from Corscombe, is one of the stars of British gangster film Lucas and Albert - and he's thrilled after it won the Best Feature Film Award at the 2021 National Film Awards.

The success of the film caps off a remarkable turnaround for Mr Osborne, who nearly died on the operating table in 2019, the same year that Lucas and Albert was filmed.

The dark comedy thriller, also starring John Altman - 'Nasty' Nick Cotton in EastEnders - was up against such blockbusters as Oscar nominee 1917 and Dwayne Johnson's Fighting With My Family.

The story follows two ageing hitmen, the titular Lucas and Albert (Mr Osborne and his childhood friend, A.G.Longhurst) who are sent to clean up a bank robbery that went wrong before they can hang up their guns for good.

Mr Osborne, 62, said: "It was a huge shock to actually win the award, it doesn't tend to happen when you're up against big movies like we were.

"When they announced us as the winner, there was almost no reaction from me, I was so stunned. It was such a great feeling and a fantastic night.

"The organisers got in touch with the director and he thought it was one of his friends having a joke but it turned out to be real.

"Through years of acting, all the good times and bad times to have this success is incredible. When something like this happens it makes it all worthwhile and you forget about the hard times."

Originally from London, Mr Osborne moved to west Dorset with his wife Kathleen in 2017. He has been acting for 40 years, starring in films such as 'Hatton Garden: The Heist' and 'Ten Percent'.

Mr Osborne and co-star Mr Longhurst grew up on the same London council estate and both attended The Anna Scher Theatre School in the early 1980s.

Mr Osborne underwent surgery at Dorset County Hospital after becoming ill with Crohn's disease in 2019, even temporarily flatlining on the operating table during the surgery. Lucas and Albert was filmed later that year.

Mr Osborne said: "I'm almost back to my normal self, it's a miracle.

"I lost a lot of weight when I was ill and looked a bit haggard which actually worked for my character in the film.

"I pulled through and was able to do the film and we went on to win the award. It has been a journey over the past few years but I've made it to the other side and things are looking up."

Plans are already in place for the next film 'Babysitters', which will focus on the same story from the perspective of different characters.

Lucas and Albert is available to watch on Amazon Prime.