MICHAEL MEARS was the lucky man hired to measure screen star Gwyneth Paltrow's inside leg.

But the actor's big screen moment was scrapped when the filming schedule for Shakespeare In Love had to be cut short -- and his scene was scrapped.

Instead, the actor, who stars in The Octagon's latest production, got to appear in Paltrow's latest film -- and this time was hired to discover the actress's character's dead body.

But that did not quite work out as planned either.

He explained: "The film was about the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

"I played a passer-by stopped by her children's nanny who realises something is wrong.

"I break into her flat and discover her there lying dead.

"But it was decreed that the scene simply required my face's reaction.

"I did ask if Gwyneth could be there lying on the floor to help me act the part -- but there was no chance, and yet another opportunity to work with her went begging.

"In Shakespeare In Love, I was hired to play a dressmaker who had to measure her inside leg all the way to the top, when my character would realise that there was nothing there and she was indeed a woman dressed as a man.

"But the film was behind schedule and mine was one of the scenes cut."

However, Michael, who has just spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is happy to be back at The Octagon.

He is starring in Moliere's classic The Hypochondriac, having worked in the theatre on three occasions during the 1980s.

He said: "In those previous plays all three of the characters ended up dying on stage.

"This time my character spends the entire play thinking he is going to die -- but ends up surviving!"

The play, which has been brought up to date, is described by Michael as "a tremendously entertaining evening of theatre".

However, Michael does have one concern about the lead role.

He explained: "Moliere starred in his own plays, and died while doing this particular one. On the fourth performance he became ill, and later died.

"The date of my fourth performance is burned on my mind -- I think I will be touching wood all day!"

The Hypochondriac runs from Thursday (January 30) until Saturday, February 22. For tickets, call 01204 520661.