Eric Cantona has revealed that he has had to work hard at his acting career.
The former Manchester United star made the transition into movies when he retired from football, making a cameo appearance in Elizabeth in 1998.
He returns to the big screen this week in French Film as well as starring in Ken Loach's Looking For Eric.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph Cantona said: "For the first three or four years I was new to acting and I didn't have any experience at all.
"Maybe I wanted to prove too many things and I thought I could do it without working hard.
"But I was wrong, and one day I realised that I had to work hard and I found the confidence and freedom to play."
"I have learnt the best way is to read the script, to know the character, even the things that are not right, and ask myself questions about the character, about the other characters. Why things happen."
Looking For Eric is to be screened at Cannes Film Festival where it is competing for the Palme d'Or.
Looking For Eric is released 12th June.
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