A SWINDON-BORN actor has hit the big time after starring in the Hollywood adaptation of the Cats.

Aaron Jenkins danced alongside huge names including Sir Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson and Idris Elba in the £73 million blockbuster movie.

The 25-year-old was making his debut on the big screen and was inspired by the musical as a youngster.

One of his highlights was sitting a mere three feet away from Hudson while she sang Memory as well as playing board games with Judi Dench.

He said: “I guess I always loved performing for people and being the centre of attention from a young age.

“My nan had the Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, Cats and Joseph, on VCR and I remember sitting on her lap watching them and as I got a bit older thinking ‘I’d love to do that’.”

Aaron started his performing journey at the age of 11 when he joined the Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama on Prospect Hill before he moved to London to train professionally at Laine Theatre Arts.

“I owe so much of what I’m doing to Miss Hockaday and the teachers at her school,” Aaron added. “To try and make a proper career out of dancing you really need to go and train at one of the musical theatre colleges in London and be taught by industry professionals.

“Miss Hockaday and Heather Reynolds gave me such a solid foundation and prepared me so well for when I went to audition for the colleges. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for them.”

When he lived in Swindon, Aaron went to Dorcan Academy and split his time between his mum's house in Walcot and his dad's in Gorse Hill.

His box office break arrived shortly after he had finished a run in Mary Poppins.

Aaron told the Adver: “It kind of came out of nowhere. My agent phoned and asked if I could make an audition for the following day.

“So I went along, was there from 10am to 4pm, then the next day I was sat eating my breakfast and got a phone call saying I’d got the job and the rehearsals started Monday.

“It was crazy because after an audition it can sometimes be four or five weeks until you hear anything.”

Aaron had only performed in stage shows before Cats, spending two years in Wicked and a year in Mary Poppins.

“It was so different,” he added: “With a musical, once the show is opened you know exactly what your schedule will be each week with the eight shows. Doing the movie, you literally say goodbye to trying to plan anything.”