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'It's very difficult to stay out of trouble': Jack O'Connell opens up above growing up in a deprived part of Derby as he promotes new film Money Madness

Published: 21:40 GMT, 20 May 2016 | Updated: 00:21 GMT, 21 May 2016

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He is known for his portrayal of tough gritty characters from the small screen to Hollywood blockbusters.

And Jack O'Connell has revealed how his experience growing up in a deprived part of Derby has shaped his acting.

Talking about why he seemed comfortable playing troubled, angry characters the 25-year-old actor told Kirsty Lang on Radio 4: 'Why it might be accessible to me I don’t know.

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Jack O'Connell has revealed how his experience growing up in a deprived part of Derby has shaped his acting

'I did grow up in an area where that level of rage is used as a tool to defend or protect or intimidate and that was just part of everyday life.'

He was interviewed to promote his new film Money Monster, in which he stars alongside George Clooney, whom he praised as a 'very giving, very understanding and a very friendly likeable man' who 'has a good sense of humour'.

The star was spotted as he arrived at the studios in central London, looking smart in suede Chelsea boots and a dark leather jacket on Friday afternoon.

In Money Monster O'Connell's plays a man who takes Clooney's character hostage after losing his life savings because of the financial advice he was given by the TV personality

In Money Monster O'Connell's plays a man who takes TV personality Lee Gates hostage after losing his life savings because of the financial advice he was given by the TV guru, played by Clooney.

Leaving school with two GSCEs, O'Connell's acting career was far from secure, but he made his film debut in This Is England, released in 2006, set in the skinhead subculture of the 1980s to positive reviews.

Unlike many publicly schooled actors of his generation, who have made a name for themselves in Hollywood, O'Connell's background is far less gilded, as he has admitted.

The 25-year-old was spotted as he arrived at the studios in central London, looking smart in suede Chelsea boots and a dark leather jacket on Friday afternoon

'I'm from a pretty deprived part of Derby, I'd say, and there just isn't the same amount of opportunity. In fact, it’s very difficult to stay out of trouble,' the actor said.

'Even my friends I still know from home, if their heads are above water, just living an honest life, from my point of view that is a huge achievement, as there is a huge amount of room for not very productive achievements.'

Yet in recent years the star has demonstrated his obvious talent and gone on to ever greater success - winning the BAFTA Rising Star award for his performance in Angelina Jolie's 2014 film, Unbroken, in which he starred as war hero Louis Zamperini.

He credits Jolie for his turnaround and keeping to the straight and narrow, which may have led to his pick as the co-star in Jodie Foster's new film.

Released this month, it has received mixed reviews, but O'Connell's performance has been praised by critics. He put his success down to 'a lot of sacrifices' and 'bold choices'.

The actor said: 'I did grow up in an area where that level of rage is used as a tool to defend or protect or intimidate and that was just part of everyday life.'