Kieran McShane, 26, found out this week that he won a small role as the character Gav Browne.

McShane's acting career was a "second coming" of sorts.

The former Riverside High and Launceston College student had finished school and moved to Melbourne to pursue a career in football.

"I realised that footy wasn't making me happy," McShane said.

When it didn't work out, he turned to acting.

McShane said an opportunity to study at the Howard Fine Acting Studio arose.

"Howard is a big acting coach in Los Angeles," McShane said.

"He coaches Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), has worked a lot with Will Smith, and a lot of other big names.

"I fell in love with the work."

McShane graduated in 2012 and got his first big opportunity in the stage production Death of Peter Pan.

He has had another small previous role in Neighbours, and completed a few short films.

"I would like to get over to LA ... ultimately I would like to be in feature films, and to write my own stuff.

"Shows like Neighbours have been a good platform for a lot of well-known actors across the world. I want to continually jump on opportunities and see what happens."

McShane said he was yet to receive all the details about his new role.