Film producers announce latest addition to Between Weathers cast

The producers of Between Weathers, the feature film which will be filmed in Shetland later this year, have named another actor who will star in the move.

Chris O’Neill, an actor/musician, is best known for his portrayal of George Harrison in the Beatles biopic Backbeat.

Filming on Between Weathers, described as a “feelgood romantic-comedy drama”, is scheduled to start in the summer, with Scottish actors Dawn Steele, Sharleen Spiteri and Colin McRedie already signed up.

Director Jim Brown, who has known O’Neill for some time, said: “Chris and I go back a few years, I first met him when I was working in Manchester, he has a talent and a presence that is hard to ignore and when the film called for a story-telling busker he was of course my first port of call.

“Not only is he a good actor, he is a great musician and I am so looking forward to working with him and developing his character.”

O’Neill said: “I am really excited that Jim has asked me to be a part of this new movie. It is such a great story and the location looks unbelievable.

“I am currently on tour in France and brushing up on my French and I can’t wait to get up to Shetland and learn to speak some Shettish! What’s the best way to get there? Is it the high road or the low road, answers on a postcard please!”

O’Neill started playing the guitar at the age of 14 and has been in many bands and composed many of his own songs with various album releases to his name. He received widespread critical acclaim in his debut role for his portrayal of Harrison in Backbeat, and went on to star in various films such as The Train, In his Life (The John Lennon Story) and X.

In 2000 he went back to his roots and went back on the road with his first love – music. It was while on tour that he was spotted by film maker Maeve Murphy who asked him to join the cast of a new film, Beyond the Fire, which teamed him up once again with fellow Backbeat star Scot Williams.

O’Neill also recorded the sound track to the movie with Irish Band Kila. Combining his loves of drama and music he has now also turned to writing musicals, the first of which is A Bard Day’s Night which will be in production in 2011.