View from my sofa: Daniel Mays
The actor on wrestling, being stopped by the police and why he never says no…
Natasha Pszenicki
- Craig McLean
Add Moonflower Murders to your watchlist
Ad
What’s the view from your sofa?
We’re in the middle of a house extension, so the living room has taken on a whole different perspective. We’re all crammed in there. Not only is it the living room, it’s a makeshift kitchen. All I can say is that the current view is a lot of dust on the television!
What have you enjoyed watching on TV?
A lot of documentaries. I was raised on Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior and WWF, so I watched the documentary Mr McMahon [on Netflix]. It’s such an eye-opener. We all knew that the sport is rigged, but to get into the minutiae of how that world functioned, and the depravity that was going on behind the scenes… a brilliant documentary.
Who controls the remote?
It’s a bit of a free-for-all. The problem is we have three remotes. We’ve got a smaller one for the sound bar, which is an absolute bugger – if we lose that we don’t know how to control the volume.
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as YouTube may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow YouTube and its required purposes.
Accept and continue
You’ve played quite a few policemen: in your new show Moonflower Murders and in its predecessor Magpie Murders, Line of Duty, Des and Ashes to Ashes, plus the upcoming Thursday Murder Club and Inspector Lynley reboot. Would you make a good copper in real life?
I probably would – I’ve got my interviewing technique down to a tee! I get stopped by cops in the street all the time. I even got stopped once at the airport. The guy was under cover, as were the three guys in front of me. I thought I was in the middle of some weird sting going down at Heathrow. He told me, “No, we just wanted to say how much we loved Line of Duty!”
A lot of actors play dual roles in Magpie/Moonflower Murders. How do you differentiate between your two characters, Chubb and Locke?
In the 1950s storyline, you lean into the comedy more. And Chubb’s such a funny character, because he’s your archetypical country cop, a bit slow on the uptake. His heart’s in the right place, but he’s pretty much useless without Atticus Pünd [played by Tim McMullan]. The modern- day Locke, you play that straighter, and I love playing him with the Suffolk accent.
Are we obsessed with TV murder?
It’s always so enticing for an audience. In Moonflower, there’s a horrible murder at a wedding, and we end up with blood all over the bridal gown – what a set-up! We all like to sit on our sofas and be TV detectives. The more intricate the plot, the more red herrings, the more double-crossing, the better.
The Thursday Murder Club is based on Richard Osman’s bestselling book and directed by Hollywood’s Chris Columbus — plus it has a cast to die for. How was that filming experience?
I’d just arrived in Belgium to work on Bookish, Mark Gatiss’s new show. Then my agent messaged: “Here’s the script [for The Thursday Murder Club], do a self-tape [audition], they’re seeing eight actors on Monday, you’ve got to be in the mix...” Luckily, the part came my way. But it’s a who’s-who in that cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley. My first day on set there was the Queen, James Bond, Acorn Antiques and Gandhi! It was mad.
Moonflower Murders is your 100th acting credit, 24 years since you graduated from Rada. How do you explain that fearsome work rate?
I get very bored very easily. If I’m sitting around, it’s not good for me. But I love the collaborative experience and the endeavour of finding a character and coming at it afresh. I guess I get it from my parents. My dad’s a huge influence. He’s an electrician, still working today.
And, like any self-employed person, it’s hard to say no to work…
Ad
Right. As soon as I say no, the next guy is going to step into my shoes. Maybe it’s a working-class trait that I still have, but I never want to rest on my laurels.
Authors
Craig McLean
Ad
Ad
Subscribe for £1 per week
Too much to watch this autumn? Let Radio Times magazine and app do the choosing, with expert picks across TV, streaming and film.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...