Coronation Street star determined to succeed

Behind actor Matthew Marsden's pretty-boy looks lies a steel determination to succeed and a positively ambitious character.

"I like to be the best I can... I'm competitive, but not a bad loser. If I'm beaten, I'll hold my hands up and say 'I'm beaten'. I know my limitations. I'll try and push them, but I certainly know them."

The man playing the young warrior Paris in the USA Cable TV mini-series, Helen of Troy, being shot in Malta, never panics about not being good enough.

"You don't get to where I am if you're not good at it. In the UK, you don't just fall off the street into acting. If you are American, you could walk down a street and someone could stop you, based on your looks, and cast you in a movie."

But, Matthew has never been given the impression that he is just a pretty face - a thought he shrugs off with a laugh.

The 29-year-old was last seen in Black Hawk Down (2001) and starred in the popular UK TV series Coronation Street in 1997-1998.

Since then, his career has evolved and he feels he has reached a point in his life where he wants leading roles.

Matthew considers playing Paris in Helen of Troy to be a "dream job" - a "different kettle of fish" in which he has achieved what he wants.

"It's a great production and a dream job for me. I get to do everything: kill the bad guys; get the girl - the most beautiful in the world; I'm a shepherd, then a prince, so I get to play the full spectrum."

It is not surprising that he repeats that he loves his job and that "it is the best in the world". As Paris, he gets to engage in swordplay, ride horses and be romantically involved with Helen of Troy, played by Sienna Guillory.

"That's the benefit of a production of the sort. You have to learn so many different skills... It's just like being a 10-year-old boy in a playground.... And you're getting paid for it."

Despite being physically challenging work in the August heat, Matthew is not complaining and just gets on with it - although he does take time to point out a wee cut on his finger that was caused during training with real swords.

"We are not digging ditches for a living. It's fun... all fun!

"I can either sit there and moan, or think of the number of people who would die to be in my position."

Matthew has little fear of losing touch with reality as his career progresses. While at university, he made ends meet by working at his uncle's market stall, selling shoes.

Now his feet are destined to stay firmly planted on the ground, due mainly to the fact that he has a "wonderful family".

"When I see my driver, or anyone else on set, I stop and think that they could be members of my family. How would I feel if they were treated badly?"

Back to Helen of Troy, the truth of the matter is that "you very rarely get such a wonderful part. They don't write scripts like this anymore.

"The reason why the story of Helen of Troy has gone on for years and years is because it is fabulous and most people know it. And if they don't, they should because it's wonderful."

For Matthew, being able to play "such an amazing character" could be a one-off opportunity and he feels he may never get as good a role again - one that incorporates such a diverse range of emotions.

However, despite the importance he attributes to his role, he is not worried about the added pressure.

"The rest of the cast help you a lot. Anyway, all you think about in these situations is doing your job. You block out the fact that the set costs millions of dollars and that the other actors are absolutely fabulous. You just concentrate on what you're doing and it all gels together."

The set of Helen of Troy is "amazing", he continues.

"It isn't just a TV production at all! If it were to be a cinematic movie, you'd be spending 20 times the amount and stretching it over three films because there is no way you could squeeze the story into two hours. This is the only way it could be done. And they're not skimping on it.

"It's a big thing that we are all exceptionally proud of."

The fact that Helen of Troy is a TV mini-series and not a feature film does not affect, or reduce its significance in Matthew's view.

The challenge of a period film is to "make it real, so that the audience is not alienated from the character... Russell Crowe in Gladiator was just a normal guy, to whom they could relate".

In Helen of Troy, Matthew swings between the role of the strong warrior and that of the soft lover. As to which one suits him most, he says it depends on the time of day.

"When I'm angry I want to be the warrior," and it is "rude people" who generally raise his ire. But, fortunately, he has not encountered many during his stay in Malta.

"The Maltese are pretty courteous, so I haven't had much to get me angry."

A savage war was waged over the beauty of one woman, Helen - the face that launched a thousand ships - and Matthew seems to believe in the inherent power of womanhood.

"Women have all the power... Totally! I really do believe that. We men think we do, but we don't at all. I think women are way stronger than men."

Matthew feels he has a good understanding of women - or "likes to think" he does - due to the fact that he has been surrounded predominantly by them. His father is reported to have walked out on the family when Matthew was just 10 and he and his sister were brought up by their mother.

Exceptionally close to his family, he is only too pleased that his aunt, who loves Malta and has visited several times, was here while he was filming. She had been urging her nephew to visit Malta...

And "I'm now sold on it!".

Matthew has lost his heart to Malta primarily "because of the people... They are so friendly. I've been to many beautiful places, but the people are very special here.

"And the women are gorgeous. They are actually staggeringly beautiful. I have never been to a place with so many beautiful women."

Matthew is also enjoying the fact that he is not too well known in Malta and is experiencing an element of freedom and no hassles. Back in the UK, he can only just about pop out to the supermarket without being spotted and besieged by fans.

His schedule here is such that the bulk of his work is carried out later on in the day. So he has been relatively free to come to these conclusions. In his spare time, he hangs around Paceville, but intends to do some more cultural exploring. He even has a favourite restaurant, which he frequents almost every night.

"The food is fabulous. The people are wonderful. Comino was staggering. It's a beautiful place to be in. I really do love it!"

The male model/soap star/TV presenter/actor has also tried his hand at singing and has been quoted as saying he would be focusing on his music career, having already released an album.

"I won't be taking a break until I'm seen as one of the best male vocalists in the world, like my idols Marvin Gaye, George Michael and Stevie Wonder. That's what I want to be," he had said.

However, clad in a toga, hair in the process of being unflatteringly backcombed, he looks anything but your standard pop star and appears to have changed his tune.

"I had a good time with the music, was a pop star for a little while and then I just got back to doing what I really love. They are both difficult industries, but acting is where my heart lies. I love singing too and could go back to it eventually.

"People say you can't be a singer and an actor, but it's like saying you can't play tennis and soccer."

Shunning the jack of all trades and master of none theory, he believes that being exceptional at both is not impossible either, offering Jennifer Lopez as an example.

"People have problems accepting you as the two unless you have great marketing and a strong team backing you - which is 95 per cent of the job. "

Originally from the Midlands, Matthew has lived in London for 12 years and is currently shuttling between Manchester and Los Angeles. The move to Hollywood, which he has already undertaken with Black Hawk Down, is not considered to be a "major leap" anyway. It is just a natural career progression which Matthew refuses to worry about.