Growing up there was only one thing that aspiring Bermudian actor, Kamel Dickinson wanted to be a professional wrestler. He was still a young man when his idols The Rock and Steve Austin were body slamming each other in the choreographed sport which many describe as a "soap opera on steroids".

"My whole life I wanted to be a pro wrestler but my parents just would not support it," said Kamel, 23. "I wanted to be on TV with all the famous wrestlers."

Instead he is focusing on treading different boards and he is putting his energy into acting, a profession he says his parents are "a bit more comfortable with".

In March last year Kamel graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles where he earned a 3.6 grade point average and an award for his acting achievements.

During his three years at the prestigious acting school one of the oldest in the United States he held major roles in many plays including the role of C.C. Showers in 'The Diviners', a production which the school's president called the best play he had seen in eight years.

Since graduating, Kamel says he has been living in Los Angeles and looking for acting gigs. And he has been rather successful so far, earning paying roles in four plays and even starring as a Zulu Warrior in a History Channel special.

"I had to basically run around in a loincloth all day," he said.

His role in a production of Fences earned him a nomination for an award. "Fences was the first play that I was in after graduating from school," he said.

"I finished school on a Sunday and by the next Sunday I was cast in the play. It has been a huge honour. I am a Bermudian playing an American and I am getting the job over the 150 or so American actors who also auditioned for the role."

Kamel's Student Visa, a document that allowed him to live in the United States has expired and he is currently in the process of applying for his O1 Visa a three year working visa for people with extraordinary abilities in the arts. The document will allow him to return to Los Angeles and continue his acting career.

"The O1 Visa is not an easy thing to get," said Kamel. "There are a lot of little things that need to be included in the application like pictures with celebrities, reference letters, deal memos and a detailed CV."

Although Kamel says that "Los Angeles is hot and the public transportation is terrible", he wants to continue building his career there.

"I can't see myself doing anything but acting," he said. "I honestly don't want to do anything else. I don't need to be a huge megastar to be happy. As long as I can pay my bills and live comfortably from acting I will be OK."