Did you base the character on anyone in particular?
Weiss reminded me of Sid Vicious.
Even the name,Blitz, which is also his name of course, is quite punk.
Frustrating that no ones looking at you.
I kind of showed up ready to go on this one.
I did that and walked on down the road.
They said they didnt have any.
I said, Theyre in the window, and the guy said, No, we dont have any.
So I knew the shades were working.
Im not sure what the word was I think it was deserter.
I didnt want to go for tattoos, but I did want to have rotting, broken teeth.
So I kind let Elliott [Lester, director] know I was happy with my look now.
To his credit, he totally trusted me on it, as did wardrobe and the make-up designers.
I moved into Barrys flat in the tower block and lived there.
I had air guns.
Barry had quite an active online life.
I stared a lot at the lights of Canary Wharf from my balcony.
I was quite ecstatic during this whole period.
How do you prepare to do on-screen battle with Jason Statham?
And how were the bruises afterwards?
They like to get a look at you and what you might be able to do.
I was put with this stunt guy and we stood face to face.
Itll be close, but you wont reach.
So I said, Right, drew back, and punched him right in the face.
His nose made a cracking noise.
How does it compare to the set ofGame Of Thrones?
Thats all far more sedate, although there are cut-throats and double-crossers everywhere you look.
Also, most of thats studio based.
What is it about flawed characters like Weiss, or Carcetti inThe Wirethat attracts you as an actor?
Carcetti, I would say, seemed just about right for a politician.
His political conscience only formed along the way, and then haplessness starts to creep in towards the end.
Would you describe Carcetti as your role of a lifetime?
Years after the show finished, its still being as avidly devoured.
And I loved the part, but I dont think its the role of my lifetime, no.
futher reading: Game of Thrones Season 8 Predictions and Theories
Television has given you some very memorable roles.
Is that where the most challenging work is for you?
Im happy to work in TV, but want to continue mixing it with theatre and film.
The TV companies had a responsibility to produce relevant and quality drama for the people and were doing it.
I was seeing things likeThe Singing Detective, Alan Clarks BBC films, and so on.
And my first three TV roles were in one-off BBC films for TV.
So TVs been good to me.
How quickly did your life change afterQueer As Folk?
Did Russell ever talk to you about involving you in any of his other projects?
It didnt really change.
Im very excited about that.
Is there a project youre keen to develop yourself, on stage or screen?
Id quite like to do a musical.
Id probably have to develop that myself.
Something along the lines of Brian De PalmasPhantom Of The Paradise, maybe.
Id also like to play Alex Higgins.
Maybe a crossover of the two?
Aidan Gillen, thank you very much.
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