But Finchley's own Ashley Gunstock is about to show that you don't have to be American to bridge the gap between acting and politics.

After standing in May as the Green Party candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, he is about to appear alongside Hollywood stars Bill Murray and Joanne Whalley in the forthcoming film The Man Who Knew Too Little.

"Sometimes politics gets in the way of acting. But in the main, the confidence I gain in one has a knock-on effect on the other," said Ashley, 41, of High Road, North Finchley, who follows on from parts in The Bill to play a policeman in the new film.

"This film was brilliant because I did get to be up close with the Hollywood stars. When we were doing our scenes it was just the four of us.

"I have to say I have got no gripes about their wealth. They are all top notch actors and they are also box office names which is why they get the money."

The Man Who Knew Too Little is scheduled for release in mid May.

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