By Monica Gibson

A TALENTED actor who has starred in a string of hit films opened his heart on his struggles with dyslexia as he visited a Barrhead school.

As a child, Kevin Guthrie found it difficult to cope with the condition, which affects the ability to learn to read and write.

However, he overcame the challenges put in front of him and went on to find fame in movies such as Sunshine on Leith, The Legend of Barney Thomson, Sunset Song and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in which he played the role of Mr Abernathy.

Now Kevin, from Neilston, has delivered an inspirational talk to pupils at St Mark’s Primary on how to be the best they can be.

He spent more than an hour talking to the children as he explained how being diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age didn’t prevent him from achieving his dreams.

Kevin, a former pupil at St Thomas’ Primary and St Luke’s High, told youngsters in primary four to seven about some of the strategies he used to help him and how he still uses them today to deal with problems such as remembering people’s names.

He also spoke about his career and shared his experience with some of the budding actors at St Mark’s Primary.

Kevin, who attended Paisley-based PACE Theatre Company as a youngster, then took the time to answer questions from the pupils.

Primary seven pupil Ryan Limpitlaw, who played one of the lead roles in the summer show at St Mark’s Primary, presented Kevin with a gift on behalf of the school.

Ryan told the Barrhead News: “It was a great honour to meet such a famous actor.

“I saw Kevin in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and thought he was really good. As an actor myself, I found him really inspiring and a genuinely nice person.

“He spent lots of time with us and even gave me some advice for my own acting. I wasn’t expecting that.

“It was a great morning for all of us.”