Actor John C Reilly might consider a sideline career in music after immersing himself in his first Hollywood lead role.
Reilly plays a flawed but loveable rock star in the spoof biopic Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story, which has just opened in the UK.
The 42-year-old actor, nominated for an Oscar in 2002 for his portrayal of Amos Hart in Chicago, says his new role has inspired him to rediscover his musical roots.
"It really is a rock n' roll fantasy come true," Reilly says.
"Maybe we are witnessing the birth of my musical career. If people are interested in hearing me do more then I'm more than happy to oblige."
Reilly began his career in musical theatre before gaining critical acclaim for meaty character roles in films such as The Thin Red Line, The Hours and Gangs of New York.
"I think Johnny Cash would have found this movie really funny because the rock star life is so insane"
But when writers Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan set about creating fake music legend Dewey Cox, they had Reilly in mind.
"Music has been a part of my whole life," he explains. "My Mom sang a lot and growing up in Chicago there was always music in the house."
Once he accepted the part of Dewey, he soon found himself in the recording studio, working on the film's soundtrack before shooting began.
'Best guitarist wins'
"We recorded more than 30 songs over a six-month period," said Reilly, who has writing credits on two of the tracks he performs in the film.
"I sing all the songs and I play guitar on some too, though there was a very democratic process in the recording studio - best guitarist wins."
Apatow and Kasdan say they were drawn to Reilly because he "has a voice like Roy Orbison and is built like Johnny Cash".
The comparisons between Walk Hard and Walk The Line, the 2005 biopic depicting the life of the late country legend Cash, are inevitable.
Both stories see the main protagonists torn between two women and grappling with drink and drugs whilst trying to keep their turbulent careers on track.
But music buff Reilly says he drew on the real-life experiences of many of his icons in order to play over-the-top Dewey.
"I can honestly tell you we borrowed liberally from everyone, from Ray Charles to Brian Wilson," he laughs.
"The songs are great and ridiculous at the same time"
"I'm a big Orbison fan but I read a lot about Elvis because he was the most extreme example of this kind of excessive lifestyle.
"I fought for Dewey to have a pet chimpanzee in the film because of the stories about Elvis and his chimp Scatter.
Real deal
"I think Johnny Cash would have found this movie really funny.
"Any musician that lived through the kind of stuff we are portraying would have to have a sense of humour about it because the rock star life is so insane."
Self-confessed music geeks Apatow, who also produced the film, and Kasdan, the director, believe their send-up of the music biopic will appeal to hardcore music lovers.
"This film is made by music fans and we hope music fans like it," says Kasdan.
Apatow, the man behind comedy hits Knocked Up and Superbad adds: "The music is very, very important to the film.
"The songs are both great and ridiculous at the same time. I'm sad that some of these songs are ridiculous because if you listen to them without the lyrics then they are beautiful."
To complete the transformation from fictional to living legend, Reilly donned his white flared suit and gold medallion for a US tour as Dewey Cox.
As he belts out songs with wiggling hips on stage at Roxy on Sunset Strip, it is easy to believe that Reilly is the real deal.
"It feels good performing live," he says. "But I'm not a rock star; I just play one in the movies."
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