A HOLLYWOOD actor from Inverclyde had a close encounter with model and actress Carmen Electra.

Greenock-born Declan Michael Laird met the A-list star working on an advertising campaign for US razor brand Dollar Shave Club.

The 23-year-old actor lives and works in Los Angeles where he is carving out a career on the stage and screen since leaving his family home in Kilmacolm six years ago to pursue his acting dream.

During his time State-side he has rubbed shoulders with a host of celebrities including David Beckham and One Direction’s Harry Styles.
But he could not believe his luck when he landed a role alongside the American actress.

Declan told the Tele: “The images and ads focus around Carmen and I. I’m just a young college student who is cutting himself while shaving, and then he begins using Dollar Shave Club blades and products and suddenly it’s Carmen shaving me in front of the mirror.

“Not a bad day’s work!”

The Inverclyde rising star is also currently part of a TV pilot based on the Tom Clancy video game series.

Declan plays a CIA analyst in ‘Ghost Recon Wildlands: War within the Cartel’, which was released on online streaming service Amazon Prime on Thursday.

He said: “It is directed by Avi Youbian (The Walking Dead) and produced by Bob Orci (Star Wars, Star Trek, The Mummy) and has TI the rapper among other reputable actors starring in it, so it’s a great project to be involved in and I have high hopes for it.

“I play an analyst/hacker for the CIA and my role would be a series regular so let’s hope Amazon picks it up to series. It got seven million viewers in its first 24 hours, which is amazing.”

In his spare time across the pond the former footballer, who gave up a promising career with Morton in favour of acting, shows off his skills with kickabouts at rocker Rod Stewart’s private pitch at his LA mansion.

Declan said: “I got roped in by a few industry guys.

“His son Sean runs it mostly, though Rod has been there a few times. He doesn’t play, he just watches from the side and ‘comments’ with a bit of banter.

“He’s a lovely guy though, we talk about the Celtic games quite often as he knows I’m a fan.

“Sometimes I need to pinch myself.”