Since leaving the Army Tony Haig has been shot at by Germans, blown up on a beach, and saved Brad Pitt's life.

But now - in his greatest challenge yet - he is to take on the might of Tomb Raider's cyber-babe Lara Croft.

Tony, 28, a former Bombardier in the Royal Artillery was at a loose end after leaving the regiment last year when he spotted an advertisement appealing for extras to work on Steven Spielberg's new World War Two drama Band of Brothers.

To his surprise he was offered a part on the series appearing as an extra alongside stars such as Tom Hanks and David Schwimmer.

But since making his acting debut the special-ops trained soldier has been inundated with offers to show his military skills on a succession of major Hollywood films and TV shows.

Tony, of Allerton, Bradford, has so far appeared in new movies such as Spy Game with Brad Pitt and Robert Redford, another World War Two drama called Charlotte Gray with actress Cate Blanchett, and his biggest role to date in the upcoming blockbuster Tomb Raider - based on the smash-hit computer game and starring Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie.

Tony, a former pupil of Rhodesway School, Allerton, said it was a dream come true to be making a living making movies.

He said: "Band of Brothers finished filming last November and it's just been non-stop ever since.

"My casting agency kept putting me forward for roles on other projects and because of my military background the film companies are quite keen to have me on board.

"So far I've been an SAS soldier in a Sky TV show called The Bombmaker, I've played an American Navy Seal sent into save Brad Pitt, and in Tomb Raider I play a baddie who's trying to kill Lara Croft. I have to shoot at Angelina Jolie in a gun fight.

"To be honest I can't quite believe it, I wish I'd done it years ago. It's fantastic being on set. You walk into a room on set and suddenly you're in a massive cave with statues and a time machine and you just think 'wow!'

"I've met Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and they both seem really nice and down-to -earth."

But despite the glamorous movie world Tony said he is looking forward to coming home.

"I'm a bit sick of the travelling and I want to come back to Bradford. I quite fancy getting a part on something like Emmerdale so I could stay at home.

"But I hear that my casting agency might have the next Bond film so I would definitely be prepared to travel for that. It would be a dream come true to appear in a 007 movie.