Born to be Wylde; NATHAN GOES FROM MR NICE GUY TO EMMERDALE'S NEW BAD BOY.

THE rolling countryside of Emmerdale might not seem like the obvious setting for an American Psycho-style thriller. But the cult film was exactly what actor Lyndon Ogbourne had in mind for his character Nathan Wylde.

While the film follows a New York banker who appears to lead a double life as a serial killer, next week on Emmerdale we'll see wealthy Nathan get revenge on Leyla Harding (Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi) when she spurns him.

First, Nathan seduces a drunken Leyla, after plying her with pearls, cash and charm. But when she later regrets the move, a furious Nathan will embark on a campaign of blackmail and manipulation to make life a misery for Leyla and her boyfriend David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden).

EMMERDALE Mon-Fri, 7pm "The switch between being such a seemingly nice guy and the malicious way he's controlling Leyla is quite horrific," says Ogbourne. "He just gets worse and worse and could easily fit into the cast of American Psycho by the end of it."

He says the power trip stems from an obsession with Leyla that turns nasty the moment she rejects him. "I think Nathan's one of the most terrifying people to have fall in love with you," says Ogbourne. "It would feel like he genuinely cares for you but you'd have that fear that if you stepped out of line he might kill you."

It's clear Ogbourne relishes getting under the skin of a real soap baddie. In real life, however, things are far more straight forward for the 26-yearold actor.

He's in a loving relationship with his girlfriend, a fashion graduate, and is immensely grateful to have landed a steady job on Emmerdale, calling the part "a Godsend" when so many in the industry have struggled With acting in his blood, Ogbourne has long known it was what he wanted to do. His grandfather, Michael Beint, has had roles in highprofile TV shows such as The Sweeney and Doctors, and has worked alongside John Gielgud in Elizabeth and Julie Christie in Far From The Madding Crowd. His brother Tristan Beint is also an ITV1, actor. "I think it was my granddad that let us realise we could get away with being an actor," he says. "Every time you get a job you're like, 'Yes, no one's noticed I'm getting away with it'."

He grew up in Swindon, Wiltshire, and credits some inspirational teachers at his drama club for helping him build a successful career in the arts. One of his classmates was Billie Piper - they used to go out together. "She completely blossomed, not only into an amazingly successful girl, but I love the fact she's a mum. It's amazing. I'm the broodiest boy in the world."

CAPTION(S):

Kiss of death: Lyndon Ogbourne (main) and as Nathan Wylde in a clinch with Leyla Harding (Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi)