A teen who lived in 17 homes after being abandoned as a baby has won a scholarship to the acting school that trained Kirk Douglas.
Kallan Fuller, 19, was just two weeks old when he was dumped on a doorstep by his parents.
He lived with relatives until the age of 11 but was then placed into care by social services.
Kallan, who was moved up and down the country, says his love of acting has carried him through the tough times in his life.
The teenager has now been offered places at The New York Film Academy, The American Musical and Dramatic Art Academy, and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA).
What is your view? Have your say in the comment section
He has accepted a £16,000 scholarship at AADA - a school which boasts alumni such as Paul Rudd, Anne Hathaway, Danny DeVito, and Kirk Douglas.
Kallan said: “The feeling of knowing I have been accepted at not just one, but three, top acting academies in America is just ecstatic.
“It’s breathtaking to think that places like that believe in me, and really do want me to get out there.
“I’m over the moon. It just goes to show that there is still hope, and life is worth fighting for no matter how bad things get.”
Kallan says he became “obsessed” with acting after watching Lord Of The Rings aged four.
But his turbulent upbringing meant he was unable to pursue his dream until his GCSE years.
Kallan explained: “I was moved 17 times in five years. The system is not the easiest place - you don’t get a lot of help.
“I was moved all over the country.
“I was taken out of school for two years - I had to teach myself everything for GCSEs.
“I came out with mostly B’s, which I was very proud of.”
It was while studying for his drama GCSE that Kallan got his first taste of acting, performing Lord of the Flies.
He added: “For weeks afterwards, people were coming up to me in the hallways, saying how amazing I’d been in it.
“It was such a good feeling.”
He then landed a two year place at the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
Kallan is currently finishing off a BTEC course in Public Services . When asked whether he has a favourite genre of acting, Kallan added: “I love it all.
“Everything to me is so fun to act in. I can do it all - and I think my past just makes me a better and stronger actor.
“Acting allows me to escape from everything I’ve been through.
“But I’m also able to use that to play through whatever emotions a particular role calls for, because I’ve been through them all.”
Kallan is trying to raise funds to help him attend the two year AADA acting course when it launches in October.
The maximum scholarship of £16,000 a year lease with a shortfall of around £45,000.
Sign up to our newsletter to get the day's biggest news straight to your inbox
The Mirror's newsletter brings you the latest news, exciting showbiz and TV stories, sport updates and essential political information.
The newsletter is emailed out first thing every morning, at 12noon and every evening.
Never miss a moment by signing up to our newsletter here.
Kallan added: “I’m pretty happy with how my life has turned out, and I’m proud to say that I’ve made it that way by myself.
“You can’t miss something that you’ve never had - and I’ve never had my family.”
Anyone wishing to support Kallan should visit his GoFundMe page