Boy, 13, swaps small village life for Hollywood

Finn Guegan, 13, is to appear alongside Tom Hanks in a new Hollywood blockbuster

A 13-year-old boy has swapped life in a small Surrey village for Hollywood as he appears alongside Tom Hanks in a new blockbuster.

Finn Guegan, from Westcott, near Dorking, is to star in the new drama Here alongside the two-time Oscar award winning actor.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis, whose previous work includes Back To The Future, Forrest Gump and Cast Away.

To mark its release, Finn is to host a special screening at Dorking Halls on Sunday.

Finn, who plays a young Richard Young in the film, grew up in the Dorking area from the age of three, living in Betchworth, Box Hill and Westcott.

He currently attends The Ashcombe School in Dorking, where he is studying GCSE Drama alongside other subjects.

Finn, who got into acting through a family friends actors' agency, has appeared in ITV crime drama Grace and science fiction dystopian drama Silo on Apple TV.

Tom Hanks, 68, is best known for his roles in Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away and Toy Story

His new venture, Here, is based on a graphic novel by Richard McGuire.

Told in a nonlinear fashion, Here is story of a single piece of land and its inhabitants throughout time and across generations, often featuring events from different time periods simultaneously in multiple panes on screen.

Finn said: "I had an amazing experience filming Here at Pinewood Studios, and I even got to meet Tom Hanks, who was lovely.

"I can't wait to finally see the finished film at Dorking Halls on Sunday."

The film also features Paul Bettany and Robin Wright.

At the special screening, Finn will provide a short introduction to the film and host a Q&A session to share his experience of filming, his acting work and path from Dorking to the big screen.

Keith Garrow, Dorking Halls general manager, said: "To have a local connection to the film makes it extra special, and we are very proud of Finn's role in the new blockbuster.

"We are sure it is just the start of his glittering film career."

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