A 27-YEAR-OLD football fanatic who worked as a stunt double on the last Star Wars film has won a leading role in an eagerly awaited West End musical.

Adam Bernard, of Paget Road, Langley, will be one of the stars of the legendary show Dreamgirls, when it finally arrives in London in November – 35 years after taking Broadway by storm.

The show is allegedly “inspired” by the story of the Supremes and Adam is playing a character closely modelled on the great soul singer James Brown.

The versatile Adam already has a reputation at home as a talented footballer – he has played for local teams and for Arsenal, QPR and Brentford at youth level.

He said: “Football was always my first love. But when that did not work out my mum encouraged me to follow up my drama studies. I began doing work as an extra which can lead to walk-ons and chances to interact briefly with the leads.”

His stint as a stunt double on Star Wars came naturally to him, as his dad was a martial arts teacher.

But it is as a singer/actor that Adam has really began to make a splash.

He said: “I toured in the Michael Jackson concert show as one of the lead singers. Now I am playing a character inspired by James Brown.

“The great thing is that I loved both of them when I was young.”

But even a developing career can have its setbacks.

Adam was once an unsuccessful X Factor contestant. His ‘big break’ appearing in Harry Hill’s X Factor musical I Can’t Sing also ended in disappointment when the show folded after less than two months.

He said: “I had actually turned down the stunt double job on Star Wars to do it. I got back to them to say I was available and amazingly the job was still open.”

Now his life will be built around Dreamgirls.

He has several major songs to sing – and the responsibility of helping to make the London production of Dreamgirls match the Broadway original.

Adam said: “The show has such a reputation. Our production has to be exceptional.”