Anything Harry Styles does Zayn wants to do too

Los Angeles - Zayn Malik wants to launch an acting career.

The 23-year-old singer is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles by landing a role in a Hollywood move.

Zayn told Elle UK: "I started acting when I was in school with theatre studies and then music came after.

"It completely stopped when I joined the band but I'd definitely be interested if I was given the right role."

Zayn quit One Direction in March 2015 and the band went on an extended hiatus earlier this year.

Harry was cast by Christopher Nolan in his upcoming blockbuster Dunkirk and has been filming in France, Holland and the UK.

The movie also stars Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, who recently praised Harry's "panache".

He said: "What's really impressed me is he's really witty, really funny - he really makes me laugh. He's been ever so brave, not making any fuss.

"He seems remarkable...one of those people who has - Sean Penn has it too - a kind of panache. I look at them and think 'How did you get that? How do you get so that life is easy?'

"But he has a lovely, lovely character. It's a gift."

And Harry's bandmate Niall Horan is also impressed with his pal's new role, saying: "I'll tell you what, if Christopher Nolan takes you on you must be a good actor. I'm looking forward to seeing it, it's going to be an unbelievable movie but when one of your mates is in it then it's going to be even better."