At 29, Steve Mullins knows he has missed his chance of being a teenage starlet.

But he is convinced he has made the right decision to have a stab at becoming a professional actor.

Steve is currently rehearsing for a production of Patrick Marber's play Dealer's Choice at the Priestley Centre for the Arts in Bradford, and has also landed a place at the respected London-based Mountview Theatre School.

"I have come to it later than most people but I think I have come to it at the right time," said Steve, who is from Rawdon.

"Ever since I can remember I have wanted to act but through school I was extremely good at chemistry so I ended up doing a degree in that.

"My mum always really wanted me to get a proper job. She'd say 'You need to be looking at your career'."

Steve has already come a long way since first enrolling for drama classes at the Priestley Centre just two years ago.

But he can only take up his place at Mountview in September if he can raise enough money to cover the cost of the four-term course.

Tuition fees alone are £11,320, with the total bill estimated at more than £17,000.

"This is the most wonderful and exciting opportunity I have had and it is my opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream and realise my full potential," said Steve.

He has launched a fundraising campaign to meet the cost and is urging people to help by either becoming a Patron of Steve Mullins, sponsoring his events, making donations or giving goods for car boot sales.

Steve went to Benton Park School in Rawdon and then Liverpool John Moores University. But it is only since he put his student days behind him that he has taken to the stage.

"I came out of university and tried a steady job but still really wanted to act. I tried a few amateur dramatic groups but they were all singing and dancing and then I came down to the Priestley Centre for the Arts and I loved it," he said.

Steve's first break came when he took part in a Christmas show in 1997 with St Mary's Theatre Group in Batley which had been written by his father.

"As soon as I stepped on the stage I knew that was where I belonged," he said.

Within a month he had enrolled in green room classes at the Priestley Centre and after only two months was appearing in a main stage production there - Jonathan Hall's Rollover Dreaming.

"Like a lot of people I never even knew the place existed but it's brilliant. This is really what I want to do. I've been at the Priestley literally seven days a week ever since," said Steve.

Last April Steve added to his experience by touring with the Square One Actors Company in a production called Sex and Death on a semi-professional basis and he is also now directing green room sessions at the Priestley.

He has produced a brochure outlining his campaign and an account has been set up with Barclays Bank in the name of the Stephen Mullins Drama Fund. Anyone interested in supporting his effort can contact him by ringing (01274) 632820 or the Priestley Centre on (01274) 820666.

Dealer's Choice is on at the Priestley Centre from Tuesday until May 13.

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