Harry Styles pictured on the set of debut movie Dunkirk

Harry Styles has started work on his debut movie, Dunkirk.

The former One Direction heartthrob has swapped the sound of screaming fans for exploding bombs as he plays a solider in director Christopher Nolan's World War II drama, which focuses on the heroic evacuation of troops from French beaches in 1940.

Harry has been snapped on the set of the movie, which marks his acting debut, six months after his One Direction hiatus began.

The 22-year-old has ditched his famous long curly mane for the role, and the new pictures have captured his short hairdo for the first time.

In the shots, Harry wears a uniform typical of a private in the British Army, swapping his trademark black skinny jeans for high-waisted khaki trousers and a matching jacket. He was also photographed wearing a lifejacket and gas mask, and sporting a bandage on his hand, covered in fake blood.

The star joins British actors Tom Hardy and Kenneth Branagh, as well as Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, in the Hollywood movie, which has started filming on the beaches of France.

While Harry's role is unknown, his preparation for the movie reportedly involved the star living on a ship without running water to experience the conditions World War II soldiers faced.

"Harry is used to living the life of luxury so this will be a very interesting experience," a source tells British newspaper The Sun. "He knows this boot camp at sea is a big part of the job and is keen to get stuck in. But this will be tough and producers are trying to make life on board as realistic as possible."

Dunkirk is due for release in 2017.