Mackenzie Crook has gone from stand-up circuit veteran to international movie star in a few short months, thanks to the success of The Office.
However, this week Crook fell victim to that success. When Ricky Gervais and his fellow cast members from the hit BBC comedy took to the Golden Globes' stage to collect their much-deserved prize, Crook, who plays Gareth in the show, was nowhere to be seen.
The reason? He is on location in Venice with Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons as they shoot a new big-budget period film adaptation of The Merchant Of Venice.
Thankfully though, Crook, who made his Hollywood breakthrough in the Pirates Of The Caribbean, will not be missing out on one of the year's most important awards ceremonies.
Probably the biggest movie star Maidstone has ever produced, Crook, 32, will be flying back to London this weekend to take a starring role at the Evening Standard British Film Awards - presenting the Peter Sellers Award For Comedy.
The other Standard film awards are Best Actor, Best Film, Best Actress, Technical Achievement Award, Best Screenplay and The Carlton Television Most Promising Newcomer Award - as well as the new Special Award in the name of renowned Evening Standard film critic Alexander Walker who died last year.
On Sunday Crook will join fellow presenters director Ken Loach and Joely Richardson, currently starring in the hit US series Nip/Tuck, as well as a glittering cast of guests at the Savoy to discover who will pick up the statuettes.
Guests this year - the 31st in the awards' history - include Gillian Anderson, Julie Dreyfus, Adrian Lester, Paul Bettany, Brenda Blethyn, Simon Callow, Brian Cox, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tara Fitzgerald, Edward Fox, Joanna David, Terry Gilliam, Damian Lewis, Kelly Macdonald, Jimi Mistry and Dougray Scott.
Also due to attend are Ray Winstone, Jerry Hall, John Hurt, Stephen Daldry, Twiggy and Jane Asher.
To find out more about the awards log on to www.thisislondon.co.uk/film
Highlights of the Evening Standard British Film Awards ceremony will be screened on ITV London on Thursday 5 February at 11:30pm
