Billy Zane has said he feels "proud" of ex-fiancée Kelly Brook, after she landed her role on Ellen DeGeneres' new American sitcom One Big Happy.
Billy Zane
Speaking to The Sun newspaper he explained: "I feel incredibly proud. I always knew she had a knack for comedy.
"It is nice to see she is well within her sweet spot right now. I think the audiences will be thoroughly charmed."
The pair got engaged after meeting on the set of the film Survival Island, but called time on their relationship after four years in 2008 after Billy had tried to help Kelly make it in the US, helping secure roles in Three and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.
Up until now, Kelly had seemed to turn her back on her dreams of success in the States, but a successful audition for her new role of Prudence in the sitcom has seen things do a complete U-turn.
Billy continued: "Credit to Kel she was doing some fabulous films prior. Maybe 'Three' was maybe a breakout for her Stateside.
"She is wonderful and I just commended her on the success as I remember seeing an ad for her show on the Super Bowl which was no small thing.
"And with Ellen DeGeneres you couldn't ask for a better producer or champion. It is well deserved."
Asked if he could see himself performing in a cameo role alongside his former flame, he said: "Potential trouble maker perhaps - that sounds like me."
His congratulations come after scathing remarks were made about Billy in Kelly's autobiography Close Up.
She wrote: "[Billy] wanted me either to look like a 1960s Bond girl or a 1950s housewife. That's how he saw me. I felt I had to find out who I was and what my own style was anyway, but it was controlling.
"He projected all his fantasies on to me. I never had a real life with him. I was always in a fantasy fairytale."
Tagged in Billy Zane Ellen DeGeneres Kelly Brook