Back with a BANG; EXCLUSIVE FILM STAR RORY RETURNS AS THE JOKER.

Byline: By STEVE HENDRY

MOVIE star Rory McCann has played gangsters, warriors and demon slayers.

But he has played it for laughs on every one of his films - by stocking up on pranks.

Even Hollywood film-maker Oliver Stone has fallen victim to one of his practical jokes, after Rory put snakes under his hat.

The 6ft 7in lumberjack-turned-actor crossed swords with the movie mogul for epic Alexander.

The prolific prankster said: "Every time I go on a job I spend pounds 100 at Tam Shepherd's joke shop in Glasgow, although Oliver Stone didn't like the snakes.

"Tying people's swords together with fishing line before a take is a favourite and I superglued an actor's flip flops together as he slept on a plane. The trick is not to get caught."

The jokes served him well while filming the sex scenes in his latest movie, Brit gangster flick The Crew.

Rory, 39, said: "I do awful things in a brothel. It's shocking.

"I relieved the stress by hiding a remote control fart machine on set. If it got tense I pressed the button."

Rory needs a sense of humour to pursue his dream. Since he gave up painting the Forth Bridge after getting his big break as the Scott's Porage Oats man 10 years ago he has amassed a string of credits.

He picked up a Scottish Bafta for his role as a wheelchair-bound ex-climber in Channel 4's The Book Group. He was in Rockface, State of Play, Shameless and played Attila The Hun on TV. His films include Young Adam with Ewan McGregor and Hot Fuzz with Simon Pegg.

But his most important job is his next one and he is back working as a lumberjack to pay the bills.

He said: "Workwise it's been a horrendous couple of years. But this ismy path. I'll do whatever it takes."

Rory has streamlined his life to allow him to take what jobs come up.

He said: "Scotland is home now, it was Iceland last year. I have two caravans, a boat and a few dosses. I don't want a base, I want the work."

Rory has cause for optimism. One of his films awaiting release - comic adaptation Solomon Kane - could be part of a trilogy. In the meantime, he is delighted with The Crew.

He said: "It's like Goodfellas or The Sopranos set in Liverpool."

The Crew is out on DVD tomorrow.

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CAPTION(S):

Pranks a lot: Rory plays jokes on his co-stars; Heavy Crew: In gangster flick