Movie star Benicio Del Toro kept his career a secret from his parents - and only revealed he was an actor after winning an ACADEMY AWARD in 2001.

Despite his starring roles in movies The Usual Suspects and FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, Del Toro's Puerto Rican parents didn't approve of acting as a profession - so he convinced them instead he was studying law in America.

The 37-year-old explains, "My family was shocked when they heard I wanted to be an actor. None of us had the slightest thing to do with film. Actors were like extraterrestrials.

"I couldn't bring myself to tell them I was taking acting classes. For two years my father thought I was studying law."

Del Toro had to confess his secret when he scooped the Best Supporting Actor OSCAR for TRAFFIC - and instantly became a household name.

He adds, "When I won the Oscar there was no point in making up stories anymore. At that point my family knew I was acting every now and then, but they thought it was just one of several jobs I was doing to finance my studies.

"They kept asking me when I would finally get my degree. But I think I won them over with the Oscar and now they're I hope just a little proud of me."

04/03/2004 20:58