No spaceship needed: Shirtless Zachary Quinto gets down and dirty as he's dragged through the mud in new desert shoot

PUBLISHED: 00:03 EST, 8 May 2013 | UPDATED: 07:10 EST, 8 May 2013

He may not be the main hero in Star Trek, but in the desert Zachery Quinto is all action man.

The actor put his body on the line for a set of stunning new photographs by Tyler Shields.

Alternating between being dragged behind a moving car and getting covered in mud, the sci-fi star showed why he has become known as one of Hollywood's most diverse and dedicated actors.

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No shirt needed: Zachary Quinto has posed for a set of stunning new photographs by Tyler Shields

The 35-year-old showed off his modelling chops in one photograph, stripping down to just a pair of suit trousers and staring with smouldering eyes down the camera's lens covered in mud.

In another shot, the star morphs into a James Bond meets cowboy character, holding onto a rope while being dragged across the desert by a speeding car.

The star took time out from promoting his new film Star Trek: Into The Darkness to pose for Shields .

Hold on: The star morphed into a James Bond meets cowboy character, holding onto a rope while being dragged across the desert by a speeding car

The photographer - who dates Clint Eastwood's daughter Francesca - has become known for his edgy photographs of celebrities.

Zachary is also known for taking risks, bravely becoming one of the few leading men in Hollywood to come out as gay.

The Heroes star - who is reprising his role as Spook in the film out May 7 - made the decision to reveal his sexuality after the suicide of a 14-year-old American high school student, Jamey Rodemeyer, who along with the actor had made a short video for the It Gets Better anti-bullying campaign.

Hero: Zachary bravely became one of the few leading men in Hollywood to come out as gay

Zachary told the Observer he was 'on the cusp [of coming out] but I hadn't yet gone so far as to acknowledge or actually to declare myself as a gay man.'

'I take pride in being one of the actors in one of the major blockbuster summer action movies who is openly gay.'

The director of Star Trek JJ Abrams was very supportive the actor reveals.

High flyer: In one photograph the star appeared to fly

The director sat down with star and told him he was proud of him.

'He respected the way I handled it. He did it in such an inimitably classy way.'

Reprising his role of Spock with the movie came with its own problem - namely for his signature eyebrows.

'It's an uncomfortable aspect of having to play the character, having to shave three-quarters of my eyebrows and maintain them every day plucking them – it's very painful and tedious.'

Back to the future: Zachary plays Spock alongside Chris Pine in Star Trek: Into The Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness - Official Trailer

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Ugh, not manly.

- Kit69 , Devore Heights, United States, 08/5/2013 21:19

Click to rate Rating 7

Zach in American Horror Story <3!

- kathyg533 , oiujoijuoi, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 19:31

Click to rate Rating 6

"Zachary quinto, is such a good actor, I loved star trek and heroes, but the forth picture is just plain weird. - Melissa , London, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 10:28" It's not weird - Zachary is so wonderful he poops sunlight.

- NealK , London, 08/5/2013 18:36

Click to rate Rating 7

Haha I LOVE these pictures.. no cheesy Hollywood poses! And Zachary is a phenomenal actor.

- chloe094 , London, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 17:25

Click to rate Rating 16

LOVE Zachary Quinto, he's such an amazing actor to me and seems to mould into any role and character flawlessly. He's awesome!

- TeenCommenter , TX, United States Minor Outlying Islands, 08/5/2013 16:41

Click to rate Rating 13

Well, I've seen just about every episode of every incarnation of Star Trek and every movie several times and I recall no character called 'Spook'. Perhaps he's on secondment from the Federation of Planets equivalent of MI5.

- mikegall , Hitchin, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 11:32

Click to rate Rating 62

Who cares this movie franchise has been ruinied.

- john smith , manchester, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 10:46

Click to rate Rating 89

Zachary quinto, is such a good actor, I loved star trek and heroes, but the forth picture is just plain weird.

- Melissa , London, United Kingdom, 08/5/2013 10:28

Click to rate Rating 65

I love Zachary! He always comes across as such a classy, intelligent and well-spoken man with a dry sense of humour. I wish him all the best for the future!

- Buckeye_76 , London, 08/5/2013 10:17

Click to rate Rating 128

Star Trek is AWESOME!........we need a new TV series too!...the latest film looks good....but i just loved the TV episodes, it didnt matter if it was TNG or Voyager or deep space nine, they were always full of ethical, poignant stories of humanity and compassion laced with lashings of humour and often great action.....i am about to watch the last episode of Voyager...series 7 tonight...seen all the others from season 1-6 and all the series 7...plus i watched all the other TV star treks ever!...its ALL great stuff and its the heart and soul of what star trek is about and what gene roddenberry envisioned!.... This new film is all about hollywood glitter and action!...which is good and exciting to watch for a film and gets star trek back on the map so i will look forward to it like the last which was a great film too...but i hope one day JJ Abrams and co will start another 7 season TV series and not forget its roots and to boldly go where no man has gone before!...

- daveb , London, 08/5/2013 10:07

Click to rate Rating 10

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