East Wemyss actor joins cast of Outlander

The 20-year-old moved to East Wemyss with his family from Cumbernauld and studied HND acting at Fife College, graduating in July.

Ryan appeared in the first series of Outlander as an extra and is ecstatic to be returning as a cast member.

He auditioned for the part in Summerhall in Edinburgh where he is doing his advanced diploma in physical theatre and has learnt never to expect a ‘yes’.

“In this industry, you get more knock backs than you do work and spend most of the time unemployed. Being given the opportunity to have a role in a show I love was something I felt extremely proud and excited about. Going back as a cast member felt like my second home. There were lots of familiar faces and it was such a wonderful experience.”

Ryan’s career has taken-off since graduating and he will also star in new feature film ‘Catalyst’ by Elizabeth J. Cassidy.

In 2015, Ryan was accepted into the National Youth Film Academy – a prestigious filmmaking course – and with the help of Fife College’s Russel Trust Scholarship, was able to spend two weeks in London with industry professionals to create a short film, “Remembering Amy”.

Inspired by tutors Christina West and Simon Abbott, Ryan said he had no issue being thrust into a group of strangers and asked to create a film in just 10 days!

Remembering Amy was screened in the Hackney Picture-house cinema in London. The film received such thunderous applause that the team was inspired to take the characters one step further and create a full length film.

Joining Ryan is Jade-Marie Joseph, Lily-Mae McGregor (Pineapple Dance Studios), Jamie Chambers (Star Trek), Ben Jones (Wolf-Blood, CBBC) and Emma Harvey (BBC Doctors) – with further castings to be announced.

Catalyst follows the lives of couple Amy Rotham (Jade) and Debbie Lowe (Lily); their love becomes the catalyst to the destruction of their lives when Tom (Ryan) is introduced.

Ryan said: “I have never worked with a group of people so like-minded, driven and passionate as I am for creating exceptional pieces of work.

‘Remembering Amy’ was a project deeply close to all of our hearts. It was by no-means a finished product, so once we were given the rights to the film, we jumped at the chance to create something bigger and better.

Catalyst is special because it is about something we can all relate too; it shows people at their best and worst.”

Filming will take place during the summer of 2017, and air in 2018.