James Arthur has ambitions to make it in Hollywood as an actor.

James Arthur

James Arthur

The 28-year-old singer - who won the ninth series of 'The X Factor' in 2012 - wants to break into movies and he thinks his troubled past, which saw him wanting to commit suicide after being dropped from Simon Cowell's Syco label in 2013, and his battle with a drug addiction, will allow him to take on a range of different roles.

He said: "I want to become a Hollywood film star. I genuinely would love to be in some movies. I am a massive film geek and I love movies.

"I have been through, and seen so many dramas and traumas, and been in so many situations that I can probably interpret a few different characters."

The 'Recovery' hitmaker, who resigned to Syco two years later, is even planning on having laser surgery to remove some of his many tattoos so that he won't be limited to the characters he can take on.

He told The Sun newspaper: "I am even trying to remove some tattoos so I am not type-casted.

"I have been banging on about it to my management for ages. I will always make music, but I really want to kick off my acting career."

James, who insists he is a reformed character, is a massive movie geek and looks up to the likes of Tom Hardy and 'Dunkirk' star Cillian Murphy.

He added: "My favourite actors are Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy. I love Shane Meadows' work. I come from that working-class place so I think I would be good at that."

Despite his ambitious plans to make it as a movie star, James will continue to make music and is to "attack" America with the hope of getting a number one.

He said: "I feel like a kid at Christmas to think that I could have a hit in the USA.

"I'm signed to Columbia out there and am going out to do promo. I'm going to attack America."

James returned with comeback single 'Say You Won't Let Go' earlier this year, his first release in two years, and is to release new album 'Back From The Edge' on Friday (28.10.16).