In the movies: An extra ordinary job

It is 2009 and South Africa has just won the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

On the podium Matt Damon, playing Francois Pienaar, exchanges a trophy with Morgan Freeman doing his best Nelson Mandela impression in front of thousands of rapturous fans.

Somewhere in the soup of emotions sloshing about on that podium is silver-haired Mike Browne, professional extra in the blockbuster Invictus. The retiree from Johannesburg now spends much of his recently acquired free time ''following his dream".

He said: ''I was one of 1600 extras on the first day of shooting, making up the crowd scene for Invictus.

"The next day I was chosen to be the World Cup President on the palladium, officiating in the handing over of the Webb Ellis Cup ."

For as long as he can remember, Browne has wanted to be involved in making movies.

''For me it was never about being famous or the money, which isn't good anyway if you're an extra. I've always been fascinated with the behind-the-scenes process of making movies. So when I got this chance it fulfilled a lifelong dream," he says.

Since then Browne has featured as an extra or in minor roles in other productions, including the BBC series Young Leonardo, and The Challenger, a TV movie in which he played legendary pilot Chuck Yeager.

He admits he has had a better time than most in his profession.

''Extras don't usually have the opportunity to get close to the stars, nor are they allowed to speak to the lead actors, let alone have a picture taken with them.

''Cameras are usually banned on set. But I've been lucky. I've met a number of the actors on the job," he says.

Browne met William Hurt during the filming of The Challenger .

''I didn't know that Hurt is a method actor, in character for the duration of the shoot. So I asked him how he was doing and he would tell me he was very sick."

Browne then told his wife he was worried about the actor's health.

''It was only after we'd finished shooting that Hurt came to me and told me about his method. He was very nice and thanked me for my concern."

Despite brushing shoulders with a minor constellation, Browne often finds the job challenging.

''As an extra you spend the day dressed only in shorts in the middle of winter," he said.

But to Browne, who previously worked for a medical aid, these are minor setbacks . Like most of us, Browne loves the movies. Unlike most of us, he is a part of them.