From gangland figure to CIA fixer, Underbelly star Vince Colosimo's latest role has landed him in the big league alongside Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Colosimo has a part in director Ridley Scott's big budget political thriller Body of Lies, in which he plays a Middle Eastern aide assisting CIA agent Roger Ferris, played by DiCaprio.

The 41-year-old actor said he was put up for the role by a casting agent who had him in mind for a few international films.