Which former Premier League star has swapped boots for scripts and won an award for acting?

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Nathan Blake was named Best Supporting Actor at Film Fest Cymru
The former Bolton striker was honoured for his role in The Homing Bird
Blake enjoyed spells at Cardiff, Blackburn, Wolves and Leicester too
He also made 29 appearance for Wales and scored four goals

By Joe Strange for MailOnline Follow @@Joe_Strange

Published: 12:11 EST, 13 October 2014 | Updated: 13:04 EST, 13 October 2014

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He might not be earning millions of dollars in Hollywood just yet, but one former Premier League striker has made a successful transition from football to film.

Nathan Blake, who is best known for his spells at Cardiff City and Bolton, has won an award from a Welsh film festival after turning his hand to acting.

The 42-year-old won the Best Supporting Actor gong at Film Fest Cymru 2014 for his role as a football coach in short film The Homing Bird.

Former Bolton striker Nathan Blake has won an award for acting from Welsh film festival Film Fest Cymru

Blake leaps over a tackle from Derby County's Gary Rowett at the Reebok Stadium during the 1997-98 season

Blake lifts the First Division play-off trophy after a 3-0 win over Sheffield United with Wolves in May, 2003

NATHAN BLAKE FACTFILE

Clubs: Chelsea (youth), Cardiff, Sheffield United, Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves, Leicester, Leeds (loan), Newport County

Total appearances: 532

Total goals: 167

International caps for Wales: 29

International goals: 4

After hanging up his boots back in 2006, Blake took on his first acting job in film Say It last year but missed out on the same award after being nominated for his debut performance.

Blake began his professional career with Welsh side Cardiff, scoring 35 goals in 131 league appearances before earning a move to Sheffield United.

He continued his form in front of goal at Bramall Lane, scoring 34 times in just 69 games before joining Bolton in a £1.2million deal.

Blake experienced highs and lows with the Trotters, getting relegated in 1996 before winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Spells with Blackburn, Wolves, Leicester and a loan move to Leeds followed before he was released by the Foxes at the end of the 2004-05 campaign.

Blake gets up high to head a goal for Blackburn against Nottingham Forest at Ewood Park in September, 2000

The former striker is now making a name for himself as an actor, playing a football coach in The Homing Bird

Blake wins a header against Russia in 2004 during one of his 29 caps for the Welsh national team

A Wales international who won 29 caps for his country, Blake was given a six-month suspension by the FA in August 2005 when he tested positive for recreational drugs.

A brief stint at non-league side Newport County followed his ban but his contract came to an end after just two months.

He follows the likes of Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones into acting, with both ex-players having appeared in a number of films in recent years.

Footballers' Football Column: Nathan Blake (Archive)