(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Chris O'Dowd learned to play the piano for his new movie on an iPad.

The actor stars as talent manager Dave Lovelace in musical drama The Sapphires.

The film is based on the true story of an all-girl Aboriginal band preparing to perform for American troops in 1960s Vietnam.

Speaking to Cover Media while promoting the movie at the BFI London Film Festival, Chris admitted learning to tickle the ivories was particularly tricky because he was constantly travelling.

"I was learning how to play piano on iPad app, on aeroplanes. That didn't really have the feel of a bit music venue, but what are you gonna do?" he asked.

The 33-year-old Bridesmaids star learned to play two songs for the film.

And he hardly considers himself a master pianist.

"I was just playing by numbers really. But it's a great job - that you get to learn stuff like that!" he mused. (C) Cover Media