At castings for commercials, you end up being told to do ridiculous things, such as animal impersonations. You probably get one commercial for 20 utter humiliations.

My granddad was not a tall man but he weighed about 27 stone and my first memory is crawling across his belly. I remember it being a journey.

I have two amazing children.

Once I won the roles in 'Spender' and 'First Knight' it was much easier for everyone, me included, to get their heads around the idea of me being an actor.

I've always wanted to be a Bond villain. I'll probably have to do make do with being a henchman but I'd be quite happy to do that.

I have been so lucky when it comes to work. It's great to do so many different roles.

Let's face it I have never been a pretty boy and so it's not as if I am going to lose my looks.

Because of the way I look, I tend to play bad guys.

The Office' was nothing like anything I had ever done before - the style, everything. And Finchy is so over the top, I really did think it would ruin my career.

It can be embarrassing being associated with a character like Finchy - people naturally assume you're just like him. Some people come up and tell me the most appalling sexist or racist joke they know because they see me as him.