Luke Tyler is an up-and-coming South African actor, whose string of supporting roles and appearances in international films over the last few years, make him one of South Africa's hottest new talents. While he's got a name you can easily imagine in lights, the actor's got the right look and the talent to break into Hollywood. While he's only at the beginning of what seems poised to be a very promising film career.

Tyler studied acting for film at the Screen Actors Studio in Cape Town under the direction of award-winning, veteran actress Aletta Bezuidenhoudt. He went on to appear in a number of international commercials and Sky TV's hit series, The Runaway. His first notable role saw him playing opposite Oscar-winning actress, Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), in the thriller Dark Tide, directed by John Stockwell (Blue Crush, Into the Blue). Tyler's sincere performance as 'Luke Brady' helped him secure roles in other films including: the superhero found footage thriller Chronicle, the comic book reboot Dredd 3D with Karl Urban and Sleeper's Wake - a screen adaptation of Alistair Morgan's acclaimed crime novel.

Tyler recently finished shooting on the much anticipated Spud: Learning to Fly, an adaptation of the beloved Spud series starring John Cleese, which is set for release later this year. While Tyler continues to attract a following, it seems like it's only a matter of time before he gets his big break. We thought we'd catch up with the rising star to find out what movies have inspired and influenced him.

"Yep, I've been there before..."

I can't watch movies without...

- ...a cherry slush-puppy. Ever since I was a kid, it was that one thing you could only get at the cinema so it just became part of the experience.

Which famous people share your birthday?

- I have some strange ones, like John Edwards the self professed psychic, Trey Parker – 1 of the 2 creators of South Park and then some cool ones like John Favreau, John Lithgow, and Michael Gambon. (19 October)

What is the first film you remember watching?

- It was Disney's Bambi. I was probably about 4 years old and my older sister had chosen to watch it for her birthday – I remember feeling overwhelmed at how big and exciting it all was.

What's the worst movie you've ever seen?

- Oh man, there have been more than a few along the way, but off the top of my head From Justin to Kelly – the American Idols Season 1 spin-off movie, was one of the worst I've ever seen! Why oh why would they take the two finalists in a SINGING competition and try get them to ACT???

Which movies have made you tearful?

- I think everyone cries watching The Lion King but more recently I found Never Let Me Go to be heart-wrenching and strangely beautiful at the same time. I feel like a good film always has that element of duality.

Who is the most famous movie star you've ever met?

- I hate this question. How do you answer it without sounding like you're name-dropping? I've met John Malkovich, Meg Ryan and Kylie Minogue to name (drop) a few but had the pleasure of working with Halle Berry for two months on a film called Dark Tide. She truly set the bar for what a "famous" person should be – professional, gracious and intelligent with a wicked sense of humour.

What's your favourite movie line?

"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad,
when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's
too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and
stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for 
every single moment of my stupid little life..." - Lester Burnham, American Beauty.

Who would you choose to play you in your biopic?

- Hmmm… at this age I don't think my biopic would be very long – any great child actors out there? Haha, I'd love Michael Angarano to play the adult me though. He's a strong actor who doesn't shy away from vulnerability and always manages to get a laugh in somewhere.

If you could produce a movie, what would it be about?

- I would tell the story of my parents. They've both lived such incredibly interesting lives with stories that sound like they're straight out of a movie anyway. It would be epic and span most of the globe… maybe Baz Luhrmann could direct?

Finally, your top ten movies of all-time...

- American Beauty ...watching this film was the first time that I realised every "perfect" family is dysfunctional in some way or another.

- Donnie Darko ...still to this day I can't quite put my finger on what it is this film does for me, but it haunted me for months. Macabre and surreal. It's also set in the month and year I was born.

- Tank Girl ...Laurie Petty made this film for me. Outrageous, funny, with a driving sense of justice. It's just fun to watch!

- E.T. ...Spielberg managed to terrify me with this film, but I quickly became obsessed with it as a kid. I even read the sequel book that explained life after E.T went home!

- Pineapple Express ...Seth Rogen and James Franco on an unbelievable adventure all the while unbelievably high? What's not to love!?

- South Pacific ...I think it's more the era I love here and less the actual film, but either way I could watch it over and over. I'm also a sucker for a good musical.

- Death Becomes Her ...this movie never gets old (laughs) excuse the pun! Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis have a melody and rhythm about their comedy that I loved.

- Never Let Me Go ...thought provoking to say the least. Tragic, poignant and blunt.

- Bridesmaids ...this movie brought with it an entirely new genre of comedy for me. The heightened realism has this undeniably tragic undertone and you can't help but think with a chuckle, "yep, I've been there before…"

- The Prince of Egypt ...it's a story we all know, Moses frees the slaves, but with a soundtrack as majestic as the story itself. And an all-star voice cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Jeff Goldblum and Steve Martin.

Top Ten Movies with... is a people series on SPL!NG, featuring a host of celebrities ranging from up-and-coming to established personalities from all industries including, but not limited to: Internet, Radio, TV, Film, Music, Art and Entrepreneurs. It's a chance to discover who they are, find out where they're at and to get a fun inside look at their taste in movies.