James Arthur has landed a cameo in a Brazilian soap opera.
The 30-year-old star – who shot to fame after winning ‘The X Factor’ in 2012 – has nabbed an appearance in the hit show ‘O Tempo não Para’ (‘Time Doesn’t Stop’) as himself after his hit song ‘Naked’ played in one of the scenes of the programme and proved popular with bosses.
The ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ hitmaker recently jetted out to Sao Paulo to film his part, which sees him perform the track co-written by Max Martin at a bar.
An insider told The Sun newspaper: "Producers were so bowled over by the reaction which James’ song got that they were desperate to get him on screen.
"He flew to Sao Paulo a fortnight ago to shoot the scenes which saw him playing himself, singing Naked in a club which the main characters visit."
The small screen gig comes after James revealed his plans to break into movies.
The British star thinks his troubled past, which saw him struggle with suicidal thoughts after being dropped from Simon Cowell’s Syco label in 2013, and his battle with a drug addiction, will allow him to take on a range of different roles.
He said previously: "I want to become a Hollywood film star. I genuinely would love to be in some movies. I am a massive film geek and I love movies.
"I have been through, and seen so many dramas and traumas, and been in so many situations that I can probably interpret a few different characters."
The ‘Recovery’ hitmaker, who resigned to Syco two years later, has even started getting some of his many tattoos surgically removed so that he won’t be limited to the characters he can take on.
He added: "I am even trying to remove some tattoos so I am not type-casted.
"I have been banging on about it to my management for ages. I will always make music, but I really want to kick off my acting career."
James is a massive movie geek and looks up to the likes of ‘Dunkirk’ stars Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy.
He said: "My favourite actors are Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy. I love Shane Meadows’ work. I come from that working-class place so I think I would be good at that."
Despite his ambitious plans to make it as a movie star, James will continue to make music and hopes to "attack" America in a bid to get a number one single.
He said: "I feel like a kid at Christmas to think that I could have a hit in the USA.
"I’m signed to Columbia out there and am going out to do promo. I’m going to attack America."
James Arthur lands role in Brazilian soap opera
