CusickGallery.net: Henry Ian Cusick

HENRY IAN CUSICK shot to fame around the world after spending four years dodging scary smoke monsters, travelling through time and surviving a million plot twists.

But for the Scots actor, one of the most special things about his key role of adventurer Desmond in the blockbuster US show Lost was he got the chance to actually use his own Scottish accent.

And now Henry has made an emotional homecoming and is about to help launch the first movie he has made in Scotland – eagerly awaited indie comedy Not Another Happy Ending.

He stars as the dashing love interest of former Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan in a film about a young author struggling to balance her shaky relationships with her nascent writing career.

The movie has been chosen as the prestigious finale gala screening of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Henry, from Glasgow, said he was delighted to get the chance to work in Scotland for the first time in years.

Henry, who now lives in Hawaii, is half Peruvian but grew up in Trinidad.

He revealed: “I was born in Peru and we moved to Scotland when I was 15, but I’ve not lived here for a long time. But I would always say that I am Scottish and Scotland is as close to a home as I have.

“I still have family here and I love coming back to Glasgow – it has been fantastic to work here.

“I get to use my Scottish accent and the only time I have ever got to use that before was making Lost. So it’s been nice to get to use that again, and I would definitely love to spend more time working here.”

The 46-year-old star, who has also started writing TV shows, became one of the most well-known Scots around the world when he was discovered living down a Dharma project hatch in the first episode of Lost’s second season.

He went on to become one of the lead characters in the mind-bending series about castaways coping on a crazy island full of strange people, mad beasts and other-worldly plots. With guest roles in hit shows like 24 (as a German spy) before Lost, he carried on to other successful telly work after the controversial finale.

He starred in the first series of political drama Scandal and made a brief appearance in JJ Abrams’ sci-fi show Fringe, and other hit programmes such as CSI and The Mentalist.

In addition to his raised profile and busy CV, the longest-lasting effect of his Lost work has been living on the gorgeous location island, Oahu in Hawaii, ever since.

Henry and his wife Annie relocated to the island with their kids, Esau, Elias and Lucas, once he had started work on the show, and now makes the six-hour commute to LA for work.

Henry said: “I live near the Kualoa Ranch (home of those massive mountains seen on Lost) where we filmed, and it’s amazing. It’s so spiritual and beautiful. But it’s so nice to get the chance to be back in Glasgow.”

Not Another Happy Ending, produced by Scots company Synchronicity Films and directed by John McKay, closes the festival on June 30 as one of the most talked about films of the year. Henry said: “It’s a romantic comedy and is set in Scotland with characters that people can all identify with as being Scottish.”

He added: “Karen is delightful, she is really charming and a lot of fun. I enjoyed working with her and she has great potential.

“Scotland is producing a lot of talent right now and I hope she goes on to do really well.”

For more info, visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk