James Nesbitt: 'Hair transplant changed life'

James Nesbitt has described his recent hair transplant as having "changed" his life.

The Monroe star had two operations at a Dublin clinic to move healthy hair follicles from the back of his head to the scalp.

Speaking to The Mail On Sunday, Nesbitt credited the delicate operation with helping him survive in a profession where youth and good looks are highly sought after.

"It changed my life," he claimed. "Several years ago I began losing my hair, and like a lot of men it was a major concern to me - in fact, it was practically an obsession. But also I'm an actor, so I'm in the public eye a lot, and I really felt that my hair loss could affect my career prospects.

"If you're working in the industry with the same make-up designers over the years and one of them says, 'Look, this thing's available', then you listen. So I went along, and before I knew it, I'd had it done."

The 46-year-old also brushed off concerns about the transplant resulting in ridicule, insisting that he is too happy with the results of the procedure to be brought down by critics.

"People only picked up on it when I opened my big gob, as usual. I'm glad it has given them something to talk about. I think it was well worth doing. It works. It's good. What am I supposed to say?"

He added: "I knew there would be comments, so I went online and said a few things on the basis that it would all go away. And it has, until now. But the hair hasn't."

As well as landing the lead in Monroe, Nesbitt has also secured a part in upcoming feature film The Hobbit following his transplant.

> Q&A: James Nesbitt chats 'Monroe'