HE has seen his wife crack the Hollywood acting scene, now it’s Peter O’Brien’s turn to shine in the Tinseltown spotlight.

Sydney acting stalwart O’Brien, who is married to War Of The Worlds and Lord Of The Rings star Miranda Otto, has all but wrapped up shooting of psychological thriller The Return, in which he appears alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.

It is the 45-year-old’s first foray into the Hollywood big time, having spent years making a name for himself on the Australian scene, most recently in the telemovie Hell Has Harbour Views and cop drama White Collar Blue.

Securing the role was no mean feat - O’Brien beat a list of heavyweight names to the gig despite not having read the script prior to his audition.

"For a while there it was surreal that Kevin Bacon and a few other people wanted this part but they cast an unknown," O’Brien told Confidential yesterday.

He’s now preparing to embark on a worldwide promotional tour to support The Return, due out next year.

"I’m not big on openings and red carpets but I’ve learnt that now it’s expected," O’Brien said.

"And it’s a film that I think I’m going to like. It’s moody, dark and scary.’

Just as haunting is the latest project O’Brien has put his name to, Foxtel’s new doco-drama, He’s Coming South, a recreation of the attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese midget submarines in 1942.

Fittingly, it will premiere on Foxtel’s The History Channel on Remembrance Day, November 11.