South Tyneside fighter turned actor stars in three feature films

Lee Shone, 40, is set to feature in three up-coming films; ‘My Name is Lenny’ ‘Death Race 4’and ‘Double Date’.

The South Shields faher-of-four was a former MMA fighter but left the profession.

Now an off-shore worker, Lee is set to star in the major films produced by Universal and Salon Pictures - after sending out emails to casting agents and beating off competition at London auditions to bag major roles alongside the stars.

My Name is Lenny is due to be previewed in the New Year but Lee says there are two more “in the can” for release soon after.

Mr Shone said: “I have just started acting, but I have already done three big films.

“My Name is Lenny’ is produced by Lionsgate, where I play the main villain called Trevor Lemon.

“In the film I worked with the likes of John Hurt, to tell the story of bare-knuckle fighter Lenny McLean.

“I got offered the part for that because the producer knew I was once a bare-knuckle fighter.”
He added: “I used to do MMA fighting all over the world in the 1990’s and early 2000s, but gave it up because I was fighting before the sport became popular so there was no money in it.”

“Acting is something that I always wanted to do, so I just went for it and managed to get some big parts.”

Mr Shone, will also star in Death Race 4, produced by Universal, set to be released later next year as the latest instalment of the film franchise.

Mr Shone will play himself.

He has also secured a role in a smaller indie film called Double Date, described as a ‘murder thriller,’ in which he plays a doorman and will voice one of the characters in computer game, Fallen Angels, alongside his daughter Olivia, 11.

He added: “There is so much negativity around with the lack of jobs on offer, so I would love to think my story can inspire someone out there to go after their dreams.

“Self-belief and dedication can get you there.”