Costner: 'Stewart inspired me to act'

Kevin Costner was inspired to become an actor by veteran star James Stewart.

The 'Dances With Wolves' star was mesmerised after watching the Oscar-winning actor in classic western 'How the West Was Won' as a child - and was astounded adults were paid to play cowboys and Indians.

Costner tells British film magazine 'Little White Lies': "As a kid, my imagination was on fire. I remember seeing Jimmy Stewart in his canoe in 'How the West Was Won' when I was seven, so I tried to build a canoe myself in my backyard.

"I cut down a tree and tried to hollow it out, I threw gasoline on it, set it on fire and tried to blow it up. My mom said: 'Get that out of here, it's messing up the backyard!'

"I loved acting but never thought I had a chance of doing it to make a living."