BBC correspondent David Willis' attempt to break into Hollywood as an actor has finally come to an end. But not before his ambitions crested with a call to be an extra in Ocean's Thirteen. During the filming, he managed to get yelled at for sitting in Al Pacino's chair — and to laugh about it later with George Clooney.

Ocean's Thirteen is Hollywood's "holy grail", without question one of the most sought-after gigs in town.

I had taken a break from writing about movie stars for the BBC in order to become one myself - or at least that was the plan - and a wise man had told me that the best way to make it as an actor in Hollywood was to start as an extra (or "background artist" as they are known) and then shin your way up the ladder.

Every extra in town wanted the chance to say they had worked alongside Brad and George and Matt, and so a call from Cathy was a bit like rummaging through the pockets of an old suit and finding the winning lottery ticket.

Previously:
Acting is hard
Scoring a role on 'Grey's Anatomy'
Face of a journalist-actor