Hollywood actor Brian Cox opened a new lab in his home town that will bring scientists, artists, clinicians, and filmmakers together.

The film star and Dundee University rector marked the opening of the Visual Effects Research Lab at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design on Monday.

Dundee University said the £5.3m project was “groundbreaking” and will bring together the worlds of film, art, technology and computer science.

Cox, who was born and raised in Dundee, has gone on to star in Hollywood blockbusters X Men and Bourne Identity.

The lab is part of the North Sea Screen Partners project and will offer film companies the chance to work with the latest technology.

Councillor Will Dawson said “We’re delighted that the Lab has been developed in Dundee and adds to the city’s growing reputation in games and digital media.”

The lab offers state-of-the-art compositing, editing, animation and visualisation software.