HE’S probably the best behaved bloke in the music business but RONAN KEATING is about to shock even his most devoted fans.
The squeaky-clean former BOYZONE singer is to play a gun- toting bank robber in a movie.
Yes, you heard me right. The mild man of pop is ditching his microphone and cheeky smile for a pair of shooters and a snarl to play a crazed gunman.
Director NADIA TASS has obviously never been to a Ronan gig.
Ronan’s landed a role in Guns, Money And Home Cooking, which will also star hardman VINNIE JONES and former Brookside babe ANNA FRIEL.
Ronan runs wild with a bunch of pals just out of college who decide violent crime pays.
Shooting starts next month in Cornwall and will be the star’s first stab at movie acting.
Ronan told me last night: “This is a new avenue for me and I’m really excited. The first day will be very nerve-racking. I hope it works out but music is still my number one priority.”
A source close to the project added: “We wanted someone to play one of the robbers who you just wouldn’t expect.
“I think it’s fair to say you wouldn’t tag Ronan Keating as a gun-wielding crook. But we think it will work. He is actually a very good actor.”
Ronan’s only other brushes with the big screen have been as a singer.
His theme to HUGH GRANT comedy Notting Hill, When You Say Nothing At All, hit No1 in August 1999.
Boyzone’s Picture Of You for ROWAN ATKINSON’s Bean made it to No2 two years before.
It’s a busy time for Ronan who has just finished his third solo album.
Turn It On, out on November 17, includes a duet with US country singer LEANN RIMES called Last Thing On My Mind.
He wrote the ballad after she asked to work with him on a track for her greatest hits CD.
Ronan added: “I was flattered when LeAnn called and said she wanted to work with me.
“I wrote the song and thought it would complement us both perfectly. She was great to work with and we’re both putting it on our forthcoming albums.”
PS. Thanks, Ronan — I’ve always wanted to use this headline.