The police series starred Daniel Mays as a murdering officer whose troubled story had the UK gripped. Daniel’s career started in EastEnders before the award-winning movie Vera Drake and TV’s Ashes To Ashes cemented his reputation.
The box set of Line Of Duty, series 1-3, is released this week.
Why take on Line Of Duty?
I could see from the scripts it was special and would be a great showcase for me. But, selfishly, I wish I’d had more episodes before getting killed.
Your death was gruesome. Did you get the giggles?
Yes. I had to lie on the floor covered in fake blood for three hours while they acted around me. You need humour between takes or you’d go mad.
Did playing a corpse affect you?
To make it look real I was strapped to a gurney by paramedics and wheeled to the ambulance. That was bad. It took ages to film and I started to feel claustrophobic.
Ever get too deep into a character?
In Vera Drake, after a tiring 12 hours, director Mike Leigh had the police burst in and arrest my mum, Imelda Staunton. He didn’t tell us it was going to happen, and I burst into tears.
Mike Leigh or Spielberg?
Help! Spielberg was amazing on the Tintin film I made but I don’t want to limit my future prospects by choosing. Can I say both are great?
Do you have a career game plan?
No. Never have. I just go where the wind blows me.
The one actor you would kill to work with?
Maxine Peake. She was a couple of years ahead of me at RADA, and I’ve always rated her. But, so far, no one has put us together in anything.
Are you a risk taker?
In work, yes, but not in real life now that I’m a dad. When I was 16 I did a kind of crazy bungee jump in America which was very scary. But I wouldn’t do it now.
Do you have any unusual talents?
I do a mean Michael Jackson Moonwalk. In fact I did it the other day when my son asked me to teach him. My kids used to be impressed that their Dad was on TV, but not any more.
You have 24 hours left to live. How do you spend the time?
As it’s my last day I’d go all daredevil again. I’ve turned down I’m A Celebrity as I don’t fancy that, but free falling from a plane would be a great, kind of macho way to go.
READ MORE
Line of Duty’s Martin Compston reveals how he plays the arrogant cop
I have a different mummy side only my friends and family see, says TV presenter Julia Bradbury
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe