Having tucked the world of British soap firmly under his belt with roles in Hollyoaks, Crossroads and Casualty, Toby Sawyer now has his sights set on Hollywood but he's already a dab hand at hob-nobbing with the A-list.

Hot on the heels of his film appearance alongside Kate Winslet and Michael Caine in Quills, the young actor is now sharing the stage at Watford's Palace Theatre with none other than Greta Scacchi.

"It was a perfect piece of casting," he says of Greta's leading role in Diane Samuels' latest play, The True Life Fiction of Mata Hari.

"Mata Hari was a very exotic, almost mythical character, and so is Greta she's a huge name but she's a rather elusive star, and people tend not to know where she's from, and that kind of thing.

"It's quite a coup to have her and it's great that she accepted this role great for the theatre and great for those of us in the cast with her!"

Next week's opening will be the world premiere of award-winning Samuels' play, which is based on a real-life episode in the history of the notorious First World War spy.

Toby plays one of two French officers who arrested Hari in 1917. "It's set in an interview room, where Mata Hari is being interrogated," he explains. "My character is the more junior of the two, and it's his first big job. He's really chuffed to have caught her, but he ends up falling for her and being rather manipulated."

What exotic dancer Mata Hari, born Margaretha Zelle in The Netherlands, was really up to during the war remains a intriguing mystery well after the event, but she's become the ultimate icon of treacherous female sexuality.

"She was a very raunchy and bohemian character, already notorious for her exotic dancing, divorce and prostitution even before she was accused of spying," says Toby. "If she'd been a bloke I don't think there would have been half as much effort made to prove her guilt.

"The play's also an insight into how men perceive women and how they treat them."

Toby and the rest of the cast are hoping, as with Diane Samuels' previous smash-hit Kindertransport, the play will transfer to the West End. In the meantime Toby's enjoying his break from TV.

"I've spent a lot of time doing TV lately and it's great to be able to spend some time on a part," he says. "On TV you just go and do it and it's over but here I can really become a French soldier in 1917. And it's great to be doing something based on reality."

As if regular shoulder-rubbing with huge stars isn't enough, though, Toby's still got an unfulfilled ambition based closer to home. "I'd like to do a TV drama for the BBC or ITV that would have to go out after nine o'clock something a bit sexy!" he grins naughtily.

The True Life History of Mata Hari is at the Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford from next Friday (March 8) to March 28.

Performances are at 7.45pm Monday to Thursday and 8pm Friday and Saturday with selected matinees. Call the box office on 01923 225671 for tickets.