Nathan Langton, a 26-year-old barista from Norwich, has been plucked from the daily grind to answer the call of stardom after talent spotters decided he was just the man they needed for a new television advert. "I was cleaning tables outside work at Starbucks when one of the talent scouts spotted me and sent my picture off," said Nathan. Beating off the competition More than 2000 people entered the competition to win a place in the advert - the final 20 were invited to meet a judging panel which included Lucie Cave from Heat Magazine. Nathan impressed the judges with his confidence and his ability to act in the live final. "I was short-listed to the final 20, which involved going to London for an audition. I had to go on stage and say a line from a film and talk about myself - which was excruciatingly embarrassing," he said. "It was a line from Dirty Dancing. I had to say ‘nobody puts baby in the corner’ – which obviously I did with some aplomb, but I've never seen the film so it was a stab in the dark." From Norwich to LA
 | | Pamela Anderson |
Nathan heads to Los Angeles on Wednesday, 13 September, to enjoy four days of star treatment and luxury, co-starring with Pamela Anderson in a campaign for Virgin Mobile's forthcoming Mobile TV service. "I don't quite know what role I have in the advert, but hopefully I'll get some screen time," he said. "It seems quite odd to me that I've won and that it's happening. "I've not really thought about it too much, but I think that once I'm on the plane the butterflies will be kicking in," he added. Pamela Anderson Pamela Anderson is the latest in a long line of A-list stars to be working in the mobile company's campaigns. Stars in previous ads include Kate Moss, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera and LL Cool J. "We're hugely proud of our advertising campaigns, and have become known for using high profile stars in an offbeat and amusing way," said James Kydd, Virgin Mobile's brand director.
 | | Nathan travels from a Norwich cafe to LA |
"We are offering Nathan the experience of a lifetime, which could also potentially set him on the road to TV stardom," he added. Staying grounded Nathan admits that Pammy caught his eye as a teenager. "I was a huge fan when I was younger. It's a boy teen thing. She's an icon of a generation so she'll be an interesting person to meet. "It's a days shooting with quite a famous director, he's just finished working with Justin Timberlake apparently. Then it's a couple of days in LA to shop and see the sites." Career change? A taste of the jetset and the chance to appear in a major new commercial might have turned the heads of some people, but Nathan remains firmly grounded. "I'm not going to live in LA and hopefully be spotted. But you never know. Something might come of it," he said. "A serendipitous course might occur, but this might be my 15 minutes of fame. I'm happy either way.
 | | Enjoying the Norwich sunshine before LA |
"Of course, I'd love a life in Hollywood – or at least what I think they do. But I'm not actively searching for it. "I fell into it this far, if I fall any further that's fine – if not, it's been a hoot. "I'm trying to stay humble about it all and then I won't be shown up for being an idiot. It's self preservation in advance. "I'm excited. It's a fun four day adventure that may or may not lead to other things," he added. - The commercial will be screened for the first time in the UK on Monday, 9 October, 2006.
Article first published: Wednesday, 13 September, 2006 | 
