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Monday, 8 October 2007

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Ewan McGregor visits Iraq

Star Wars actor gives bravery award to Army hero

Ewan McGregor has made a secret visit to Basra.

The Star Wars actor, 36, faced the dangers of war-torn Iraq to present a bravery award to Staff Sgt Michelle Cunningham.

The army bomb disposal expert won the Pride of Britain Award for charging into a burning explosives factory in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, last year.

A man had already died in the blaze and the fire brigade deemed it too dangerous to enter, yet Michelle grabbed a pair of extinguishers and single-handedly prevented the building from blowing up.

'Most people, and I'm one of them, would run a million miles from a bomb, but Michelle walks towards them and makes them safe. Amazing,' Ewan tells the Daily Mirror.

'It's important we should pay tribute to Michelle and people like her, who are prepared to put their lives in danger like this for others.'

Ewan’s visit to Basra will be shown on the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards on Wednesday on ITV1 at 9pm.

Phil Boucher