A Sussex child prodigy has been given his big break with a starring role in a forthcoming blockbuster.

Bradley Hall, 11, of St John's Close, Aldingbourne, near Chichester, is appearing on the big screen opposite stars including Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson and Gabriel Byrne in the £10 million thriller Spider.

He landed the role even though his only previous experience had been a voice-over for a tissue commercial.

Now Bradley wants to go on and become a future James Bond.

In the meantime, Bradley, a pupil at Westergate Community School in Aldingbourne, is keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.

He said: "I don't get a lot of attention because a lot of people at school don't know that I'm in the film. I haven't told them."

Bradley plays the disturbed child Spider in the film, played by Fiennes as an adult, which is set in east London and explores the madness of a man haunted by a painful past.

The film is directed by David Cronenberg whose previous works include the controversial Crash, the subject of a fierce but largely unsuccessful banning campaign in 1997.

To prepare for the challenging part, Bradley had a voice coach so he could put on a convincing East End accent.

He said: "It was hard to do the accent to begin with but it got easier. It was especially hard saying 'mother'.

"The part was quite difficult because it was one I had to really think about."

Dad Mark, 37, said he was initially concerned Bradley might get too involved in the part.

He said: "We are very proud of him but we had to make sure he was all right with doing it as it is quite a deep and complicated film.

"He got on particularly well with Gabriel Byrne on set, although I think he was a bit worried to begin with as Gabriel plays his father and had to shout at him quite a bit.

"We had to make sure he knew that it was only acting.

"He is carrying on going for parts but we won't push him too hard - even if he never gets another one he already has this experience."

Filming took place in both London and Canada, where Bradley was given a trailer with his name on it right next to Fiennes.

Mum Lorraine, 34, said: "One of the reasons Bradley got the part was because he looked just like Ralph Fiennes when he was young."

Bradley began acting and dancing lessons at the Art of Dance and Fitness in Bognor five years ago.

Co-director Lisa Davies said: "It's great he's in the film and we're all really pleased.

"He's a very kind and gentle boy as well as being talented.

"We usually have to make sure our pupils stay level-headed but with Bradley we didn't have to.

"It helps that he's got a really good set of parents."

Bradley said he would like to carry on acting.

He said: "My ideal role would be to play James Bond."

Spider is released in Brighton on January 17.