HOLLYWOOD WARRIOR!

How a ‘big and bearded’ Scot fought his way to fame (and won the friendship of Russell Crowe)

IT IS 20 years since he made his movie debut in Gladiator, shortly after giving up his mundane day job to answer an advert looking for ‘big hairy guys’ to be extras.

As the opening sequences roll in Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning blockbuster, one of the first figures cinema audiences see is bearded, 6ft 2in Scot Charlie ‘Chick’ Allan, as the wild-looking general of the barbarian horde, holding a newly severed head in one hand.

Since then, the former owner of a sandblasting business has never looked back and has worked as a stunt actor in countless battle scenes alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names, such as Russell Crowe, Chris Pine, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman.

After all the fun and camaraderie he has shared with A-listers in his action-packed career, Mr Allan, 57, has few regrets – but one is turning down the chance to be Charlize Theron’s on-screen husband in 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman, in which she played Ravenna, the wicked queen.

Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and Thor actor Chris Hemsworth played the title roles.

The actor, from Callander, Perthshire, said: ‘I was offered the part of the king, which would have been amazing. But I had to say no because I was double-booked to play a festival in Italy with my Celtic rock band, Saor Patrol. It would have been a great role, too.

‘I’d have been Kristen Stewart’s father and Charlize Theron’s husband but I had to miss out.

‘I still worked on the film, doing the battle scenes. Both Charlize and Kristen were a right good laugh and we’d chat between shots. Chris Hemsworth was great, too.’

The fearsome-looking actor’s next job will be his first role alongside his son, Finn, 25, as he reunites with Ridley Scott for the director’s latest epic, The Last Duel.

The movie – starring Matt Damon – is due to start shooting next year after being postponed by the Covid19 pandemic.

Scott gave Mr Allan his big break on Gladiator after hearing the Scot knew his way around a battlefield.

Mr Allan, who served in the Merchant Navy, had been happily running his own sandblasting company but became interested in films when he saw an advert seeking ‘big and bearded’ guys to appear as extras in Mel Gibson’s 1995 epic, Braveheart.

While he did not work on the film, he started appearing in TV series such as BBC’s Ivanhoe, as well as several independent productions.

He and the ‘fight team’ he put together, called Combat International, hit the big time with Gladiator, which premiered 20 years ago last week. The group of actors are able to recreate the fighting styles and looks of warriors from many different eras and countries.

Mr Allan said: ‘It’s been an amazing adventure. I had no idea what that film would do for us and everything that’s happened in the last 20 years.

‘We didn’t even know how big a production it was until we got on set and I saw a Dreamworks [Pictures, the production firm] sign. I remember going to the premiere and I was expecting to have been left on the cutting room floor but within a few minutes you can see my face up there about 30ft high and I’m holding a severed head.

‘That was huge and to this day people recognise me from that.’

Combat International helps fund Mr Allan’s other pet project, the Duncarron Medieval Village education centre in Carron Valley Forest near Denny, Stirlingshire.

The centre is fundraising to help survive the Covid-19 pandemic, backed by Scots star Sam Heughan and Mr Allan’s Gladiator co-star Russell Crowe – his closest celebrity friend. They teamed up again in 2010 for Robin Hood.

He said: ‘Gladiator really showed people in the industry what we could do. It’s been brilliant to do so many big films and meet really interesting people. Most of the big names have been great to work with and like chatting about what we do and where we are from.’

The Combat International team are a key part of Highland historical drama Outlander, starring Heughan and Caitriona Balfe.

Mr Allan said: ‘Sam’s a great guy and Caitriona is lovely. She’s always interested in speaking to others.’

‘Within minutes I’m holding a severed head’