Jack Reynor on acting in Transformers

1 CHILDHOOD AMBITION

Ireland-raised Reynor knew from age 5 that he wanted to act. He told New York Post: "When I was a little kid, my family got a new washing machine, and it came in a big box. I cut a hole in the box and made it like a television. I took it to the living room and I did the news and the weather for my family."

After acting on stage in Dublin, he made his movie debut in Irish drama Dollhouse. It led to a lead role in What Richard Did in 2012, which won him the Best Actor award at the 2013 Irish Film and Television Awards.

2 CHANGE OF FORTUNE

Reynor went to Los Angeles after the premiere of What Richard Did at 2012's Toronto Film Festival with only US$40 (S$50). He told The Hollywood Reporter: "I spent eight-and-a-half months with no work, and I was losing faith."

After three months in LA, he got his breakout role alongside Mark Wahlberg in Transformers: Age Of Extinction, now showing in cinemas.

Reynor told Interview magazine: "I couldn't even get an audition for network TV at home in Ireland. Now I'm talking about Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg like they're my mates."

3 TOY BOY

While winning a lead part in Age Of Extinction meant a career fast-track, Reynor was more excited about unleashing his inner fanboy.

He told New York Post: "I had a range of the toys as a kid. I used to watch the TV shows and I was a big fan of the films."

Reynor plays Irish rally-car driver Shane, who is secretly dating Wahlberg's daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz). The trio unwittingly get embroiled in a bitter battle between shady government agents, the Autobots and the Decepticons.

4 IRISH ADVICE

Reynor's next big project is Macbeth, where he stars opposite Michael Fassbender, who offered advice when Reynor signed up for Transformers.

"I had a few beers with Michael. He told me it would be a challenge, but to remain grounded and keep my head down," Reynor told lifestyle website Refinery 29.

"That was a good thing to hear, because a lot of people would tell you the positives about doing a movie, but nobody tells you how hard it is."

5 HE'S SPOKEN FOR

He's engaged to his girlfriend of two years, model Madeline Mulqueen, 22. The duo confirmed their status last year at the Irish Film and Television Awards after their relationship bloomed following their flirtatious exchanges on Twitter.

FAST FACTS

Name: Jack Reynor

Born: Jan 23, 1992, Colorado, United States

Filmography: Dollhouse (2012), What Richard Did (2012), Cold (2013), Delivery Man (2013), Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)