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Reach for the stars kids, says the man from Mars
SOUTH Yorkshire TV star Dean Andrews knows all about Life on Mars - but made one giant leap for budding young actors when he stepped back down to earth in Rotherham.
The cabaret singer-turned-professional actor, born and bred in South Yorkshire, returned to his hometown to tell kids: "Reach for the stars and your dreams can come true."
Despite the 43-year-old's recent rise to stardom he has kept true to his roots, and now lives in Barnsley with his wife and two children.
Educated at Sitwell Juniors and then Oakwood Comprehensive School, he lived in two pubs run by his parents - The Masons on Wellgate, and The Green Dragon in Kimberworth - before taking the spotlight, first as a singer.
Now, after a string of film and TV parts, he has found national fame, starring as DS Ray Carling in the hit BBC1 cop show Life on Mars. Co-star Liz White, who plays Annie Cartwright, also comes from Rotherham.
As Dean visited the performing arts school at Clifton Comprehensive, his message to the youngsters was that with talent, drive and ambition, they too could go far.
"I'm living proof that, with a bit of luck, you can get anywhere," said Dean. "I had a typical Rotherham background, have been a lifetime Rotherham United fan, and started work at Kirkby Central, a car dealership on Wellgate.
"My dad was a steelworker who used to sing in the clubs and I started doing that, doing a season at Skegness and cruises. It was an audition for the film The Navigators which got me into films.
"It was a fluke I suppose. They were looking for gritty, normal, local, 'everyday characters' and hundreds of us from the club scene auditioned. Now here I am."
He told The Star: "I want to get across to the kids that when they are sitting there in the classroom at school, wondering about their future, they could actually be the next big thing in the films or on stage.
"One thing leads to another. With enough drive and ambition you can get anywhere."
Down-to-earth Dean has signed up as an 'investor in education', and was at Clifton Comp as part of his mission to guide youngsters in the right direction.
Helen Pickles, from The Music Factory which runs the 'investor' scheme, said: "We are delighted Dean has signed up.
"The scheme is about inspiring our young people and exposing them to opportunities, and it's great that we can get someone from the acting industry to come in."
More than 200 businesses in Rotherham have signed up to work more closely with local schools. To get involved call Jovan Maric on 0870 777 2653.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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