HE is not even out of his teens but already local actor Oliver Lee has won awards for his theatre work, starred in a horror film, appeared in a controversial television drama and is about to become a household name in a soap opera.

Oliver, from Atherton, made his professional acting debut at the Octagon theatre at the start of last year, earning plaudits from critics for his role as a teenager coming to terms with being gay in Beautiful Thing.

Oliver, aged 19, had trained for several years with Active8, the Octagon's youth theatre and even worked as an usher at the theatre while studying at Fred Longworth High School.

After his impressive professional debut the parts have continued to roll in for a delighted Oliver and this month he can be seen in Emmerdale as Owen Hartborne, the grandson of pensioner Pearl Ladderbanks.

Oliver's scenes, where he arrives in the village trying to find his missing father, convicted rapist Frank Bernard, have already been filmed and will be seen from January 27.

The teenager had originally been booked to appear in five episodes but has impressed so much in his role that he is hoping to be a regular on the show for a few months.

"We are delighted to have Oliver as part of the cast," said an Emmerdale spokesman.

Oliver, who lives with his mum and dad, Kevin and Lisa, and siblings George, Alice, Aidan and Connor, has appeared in the controversial binge drinking Channel 4 drama, Legless, which was filmed partly around Bolton. He also appears in his first movie, an action packed urban thriller called Exhibit A, which was filmed in Leeds earlier this year.

"It is a bit like the Blair Witch Project - it looks like it has been filmed on a hand held camera left lying around the house," said Oliver.

Other potential projects for the year include a television drama about soldiers in Iraq and a film about the cult 1980s Manchester band Joy Division.