Bury St Edmunds actor Aaron Twinn, who appears in the Walking Dead and Top Boy, on latest movie role and how friendship with Dave Courtney influenced his move into acting

A former Bury St Edmunds painter and decorator, who fell into the film industry after a chance meeting with an ex gangster, has spoken of his latest movie.

Aaron Twinn, 42, plays Chris in the film Trafficking which was released last month on streaming services including Prime Video and the Sky Store.

The movie, based on true events, sees Aaron’s character act as a henchman for his boss, a child trafficker who kidnaps a girl. A game of cat and mouse ensues between the traffickers and an ex hitman intent on rescuing the girl.

The father of four became involved in acting about seven or eight years ago through his friendship with former gangster Dave Courtney who he met backstage whilst working as a photographer for a ska and reggae band.

When Aaron was decorating Dave’s house the opportunity arose for Aaron to act in a film which was being shot in the ex gangster’s home.

“I said to the director that I’d be well interested in having a part in the film or just getting involved,” Aaron said.

“He told me to get dressed into a suit and in that film I was shot. I’m not in the movie that long but when I was driving back home to Bury the next day the director messaged me and asked what drama school I went to.

“I told him I didn’t go to drama or acting school and he said I was really good.”

Although Aaron’s character was killed in the second installment of the film, the director then wrote him into the first movie which he hadn’t finished shooting.

Since then, Aaron has regularly played gangsters and has credits in Rise of the Footsoldier: Marbella, Top Boy, Bollywood films and the Walking Dead as a zombie, and has appeared in music videos for the likes of Black Jack UK and Koba Kane.

He’s currently working alongside Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby in Coronation Street.

To those thinking of joining the film industry, Aaron said: “Don’t turn down opportunities that you’re not sure about because I wasn’t sure about being in films but when I did it I loved it.

“When I first started doing it, I had to do a lot of stuff unpaid. You have to build up your resume or your showreel. It does take commitment.”

He ultimately hopes to work in a major Hollywood production in the future and would like to play other characters like a doctor.