Interview from the Sunday Mail by Mickey Mcmonagle

IT'S a long way from Albert Square to ancient Greece but Sean Maguire has just notched up his first lead role in a big-budget Hollywood movie, spoofing Gerard Butler's 300.

Meet The Spartans sees the friendly British actor play Leonidas in the Scary Movie-style comedy. It has already been a massive hit with US audiences.

The 31-year-old moved to LA in 2001 to have a crack at the big time. After a series of TV roles - including a starring stint in sitcom The Class - he is enjoying life more than ever offscreen too.

Sean told me: "It was not easy starting off in a new country. I was living in this rented community of flats full of actors, which was dreadful.

"I had to go out to audition after audition and work at it so hard. To get from there to here is amazing. There's a great sense of achievement and I have grown up a lot.

"I have a happy relationship because I am doing what I love. I honestly thank God every day for the position I'm in."

Sean is settled with girlfriend Julie Ettridge, a make-up artist. While they plan to remain in the beach paradise of LA for the time being, he is desperate to start a family - and wants the kids to grow up in the UK.

He said: "There are definitely wedding plans ahead. We are not sure when but I hope soon. And kids - I want lots of kids. I am one of a family of six kids and I love them so I am desperate to be a dad as soon as possible.

"Julie does not quite feel the same way - she is fending me off constantly, shouting, 'I'm not ready!'. That's good practice for when we are married, I suppose.

"We talk about where we will live a lot. I still have a place in London - so, in an ideal world, we would split our time between the two. I'd like to get a nice solid career going here in LA then spend a few months in London doing a play or something, then back here for a movie or TV show.

"All my friends and family are in Ireland, Scotland and London so I want to keep one foot there all the time.

"When it comes to the kids, it is a big thing - we talk about that constantly. The thought of my child growing up with an American accent really makes me feel a little bit ill. I want a Scottish, Irish or English accent. Any of those are fine."

Sean's biggest break before landing the headline role in Meet The Spartans was The Class, the sitcom from the makers of Friends which saw him play an American on US TV for the first time.

"It was a big thing for me because I beat American actors to play an American.

"I was confident in my accent but until someone books you for it, you're never quite sure. It was a huge disappointment when it was cancelled after a season.

"It's the best job in the world working on sitcoms - you work for three hours a day, the money is amazing and you have five months off to do what you want.

"You don't earn the millions people think you do for starring in a movie, whereas TV pays really well.

"I want to build up enough in the bank to have kids without worrying about paying for schools and stuff, so I definitely would not rule out more TV."

Sean's starring turn as Leonidas meant he had to bulk up incredibly in a ridiculously short period of time and had to train constantly.

He said: "I got the job four weeks before we started shooting. I had two trainers - one in the morning, one at night - and a nutritionist. I was at the gym four or five hours a day, seven days a week, with seven meals a day, protein shakes, supplements, the works.

"No fat, no sugar, no booze. I was desperate to swim in beer - and the first slice of pizza after the three-month shoot tasted better than you can ever imagine. Sitting down to yet another plate of plain chicken and asparagus was grim. Even between takes I had to work out."

Sean also faced the pressure of carrying a £20million movie on his shoulders - as the star, if it didn't work out, he could well have been finished.

"The funny thing with the pressure is the training took my mind off it.

"It was my first time as the lead in a big studio movie, so if it failed it would have been one try and out the door. It scared me a little. I had to look at it that I was living my dream and should enjoy it. I am just glad people liked it and went to see it."

Sean plans to direct a semi-autobiographical film about Irish dancing, now at the script stage. But first he is trying to find the right project to further impress the bosses at Twentieth Century Fox.

He said: "I have a three-film deal with Fox so I will be doing two more for them. I want something different, maybe an action comedy or a nice romantic comedy would be a smart step.

"All Spartans did was get my foot in the door.

"I am still a beginner. I'm not sorted, I'm not a millionaire, Spielberg is not on the phone begging me to be in his next movie.

"The thing is I love where I am and the thrill of it - if I was at the Clooney or Hanks level maybe the thrill of the chase would be gone and the hunger would fade."

One thing fans don't have to worry about is Sean returning to his pop career. After his stint as Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders, he followed the traditional route from soap to stage and notched up a couple of hit albums. Sean said: "It's safe to say my mic has been hung up and the world can breathe a sigh of relief. I won't do a reunion tour with myself for the money.

"I really did not have a very high opinion of myself in music and that is probably for the best.

"The getting drunk and partying bit was great. It was the getting up on stage and singing, or sitting down to write songs, that I was not too good at."

Meet The Spartans is out on Friday.