He’s a local resident and real life action man with a story that could have been out of a Hollywood film.

If you bump into Mike around the area you may, on first impression, be hard pushed to imagine all the things he has done and is doing with his life. With his genuine smile and warm character you’d just think he was just a regular guy, but as we’ll find out, not only is he a man of action but his life story is a bit like a Hollywood movie.

Mike you are now an actor, but you have a life story that seems to almost be a film in itself. Can you tell us about the early days?

I don’t believe in miracles but I do believe in the power of the mind. I think if we really want something so badly it is possible to create a mind set to achieve it. I knew I would recover if I focused completely on the subject.I left school at a very early age and joined HM forces initially as a combat frogman where I specialised in explosives and became involved in Special Forces. On reaching the rank of Captain I decided that life was more challenging and more rewarding in the North Sea oil fields so I left and worked my way up from diver to supervisor to superintendent and then to consultant. I then started my own company in Subsea Consultancy and that grew to have offices all over the world and became one of the largest companies specialising in all aspects of deep diving.

At the age of 30 I was diagnosed with Leukaemia, so decided it was time sell the company and focus on my health.

How did the shocking news of being diagnosed with such a serious illness affect you?

To be honest at first I didn’t really know what Leukaemia but after all the consultancy and advice as to what the illness was I realised the only way forward was to dig deep and fight. I became very ill and lost a lot of weight as a result of the chemo therapy. Fortunately I have been blessed with incredible will power and after a year or so I started to respond to the treatment.

As my health started to improve I was advised to go to a fitness centre to take some exercise and get my strength back. At this point I was so weak and thin I thought it was going to be an impossible task. But I met a professional body builder who was the reigning Mr Scotland who said he would help me on to the road to recovery. Remember I had never been in a fitness centre at all so I really didn’t know what to do or expect. The first thing he said I had to do was set a target so we could measure what I was doing and my progress. After a long pause I said OK, I want to be Mr Scotland just like you. He laughed and said it was impossible but never the less it was a goal.

To recover from such a serious illness is amazing. Was it all about the medical treatment?

I don’t believe in miracles but I do believe in the power of the mind. I think if we really want something so badly it is possible to create a mind set to achieve it. I knew I would recover if I focused completely on the subject.

So was your trainer right that you couldn’t become Mr Scotland?

I know it was an impossibility in most people’s eyes but after 4 years of hard training I achieved the goal and became Mr Scotland. I then went on to Europe winning competitions all over and then taking five World Masters titles and two Universe titles. This achievement has led to many awards for recognition of my contribution to sport and only this year I have been awarded the World Fitness Federation's highest award and become a 'living legend' in the WFF Hall of Fame.

So what did you do after all that?

I came out to the Lykia World Hotel in Oludeniz to do a guest appearance and ended up with a job offer to be the sports director which I accepted. That enabled me to continue my tough training schedule. I fell in love with the area and Turkey as so many of us have here.

In 2006 I travelled to Moscow to take part in the professional world championships. I won that but when I returned to Turkey I had a heart attack a few weeks later. My heart stopped for six minutes and I believe if it wasn’t for the professionalism of the doctors and staff at Ege University Hospital in Izmir I wouldn’t be here today. This put a complete stop to my competitive career and my training.

Let’s talk about your acting. You have been in films including Planet, Freight, Red Riding, Braveheart and Gladiator. How did this come about?

It all came because of my physique and because I was big and strong I was a natural to play certain parts that required looking, well, big. That’s how I was chosen to be an extra in films such as Braveheart and Gladiator. But then things became a little more serious when I was offered a lead role in Mark Stirton’s “The Planet”. After that film I got the bug when I realised I could not only look big and mean but I could act as well.

Which role and which movie did you like yourself in the best and which actors were the most enjoyable for you to work with?

I think my best role was Captain Morgan in the Planet. Mark Stirton the director allowed me to bring some of my military skills to the set so I was able to play the role in a natural way as if I was back in the military. However I think my best movie was Stuart St Paul’s ‘Freight’ that was filmed earlier this year. It is full of action from start to finish and allowed me to play alongside some pretty powerful actors. I would hate to say which has been my best actor or actress to work with there have been so many. It was a pleasure to work with Sean Bean in Red Riding, Craig Fairbrass and Bill Murray in Freight. All are a delight to work with, so helpful as well as being real good mates.

Are there any of your new films out that our readers can get hold of to see you in action?

Freight is in production and was bought by icon films - Mel Gibson’s company - and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year. It is due for release in November / December. Other films out now are called ‘One Day Removals’ and ‘Red Riding’.

Do you have plans to do more films and will you be breaking into the Turkish film industry?

Yes. I have started acting in a film called ‘Rough Around the Edges’ with the first weeks shoot taking place aboard a yacht in Fethiye. My home patch! I then move to England in mid October to start filming ‘The City of Hell’ in which I play Sergeant Duane the 2nd lead. The film is about gangster crime in the 1930s.

Sadly there are no Turkish movies on the horizon. There were two opportunities earlier in the year but both fell through for one reason or another. It is now my new target to get involved with a Turkish production no matter how small as it makes sense now that I live in Fethiye. As I said I am an action man and I am looking for a film I can use all my skills such as horse riding, sword fighting and more.

What do you like or love about Turkey?

I love Turkey with a passion. I brought the Fifth World Title back to Turkey in 2006 and it was such an honour to see ‘Thank you Mike’ written across the front page of the Turkish Daily paper Hurriyet. I have brought many, many people here from my home country and many have returned time and time again. I love Fethiye, the nature, the people; in fact everything except the roads.

What One Thing Would you Love to Do?

I’ve got my own yacht and I love to sail. I’d love to sail round the world, but I have so many other things on the cards right now that will just have to wait.

And Finally.......

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your time and I send my best wishes to the thousands of friends I now have in the Turkish community. I love you all.

You can see more pictures of Mike on his website www.iron-mike-mitchell.com