[Laughs, nods].
Ad content continues below
Was Gethin always your role here, then?
Or did you read the script and go thats the part I want?
It was the other way round.
Because I think thats more interesting sometimes as an actor.
Certainly some of the earlier stuff I did in theatre, I used to love those kind of parts.
I think theyre cinematic.
The parts where you have to be very present but you dont necessarily have a huge amount to do.
Yes, hes still for a lot of the film.
But I think its a character that a lot of people recognise in a way.
Its important that you remember his story.
A lot of what I talked to Matthew about were his moments in the story.
Its been gorgeous to play this character.
It strikes me as an anti-theatre role.
In a theatre, youre projecting to hundreds of people.
Here, youve got a camera four feet away, and any little movement would over-exaggerate him?
And its very beautifully plotted out his story in the script.
Its just really nice to play a completely different character.
Youve never made any secret of the fact that you like to transcend expectation and jump genre.
Are you settling on a genre you prefer, or would that in itself make you feel uncomfortable?
Thats where Im comfortable, being uncomfortable.
It was very dizzy in a way.
What Ive needed to do is take it a little slower over the summer!
Its interesting that you did a Ken Loach film, and yet Pride is arguably even more political.
Theyre similar in themes.
I remember telling Ken about it on the set.
I think thats its achievement.
Its undoubtedly a feelgood film.
But I think there are connotations in that its cuddly, but its not in any way saccharine.
All the things that move people in the movie are things that really, really happened.
But I think the movie just does something to you, and makes you feel good.
I think the heart is being engaged, but I also think the brain is being engaged.
There are two pigeonholes it could have ended up in as well.
It seems vaguely depressing that this story is only being told now.
Have we progressed, I wonder, as much as we think we have?
Well, the thing I always feel is that I hate the us and them mentality.
The issues here are still prevalent to some degree.
Itd be naive to suggest that they arent.
But I think what the film is asking us to say is that we are not that different.
United by a man with a stunning coat too.
You must all have been very jealous of Paddy Considines jacket.
[Laughs] Exactly right!
Now, post-Sherlock, is the inverse true?
That everyone seems to know who you are.
Does that change in any way the choices youre making?
You said before that youre looking for lower key roles, for instance: has it changed?
It has, absolutely.
And then post-Moriarty the challenge isnotto play villains.
Its as difficult as you might make it really.
Of course Ive been asked to play a lot of similar roles to Moriarty.
And the answer is if you dont want to just play villains, you say no.
So it means that you just look for different things, or think about them differently.
Its hard to say that word!
Thats the great challenge of it though.
You described the role as playful in the past?
Yeah, totally playful.
And thats what I take a stab at be as an actor.
Its never really bothered me [about being pigeonholed as a viillain].
Maybe because the decision makers in the industry saw me pre-Sherlockand know Ive got different stuff I can do.
I have been trying to do that, and long may that continue if I get the opportunity.
My one Sherlock question, as I appreciate you cant divulge anyway about the plot or anything like that.
But would you like the role of Moriarty to be a constant in your career?
Thats not asking anything specific, I think!
[Laughs] I know, I know!
That youd moved on.
Im totally accepting always of what Steven [Moffat] and Mark [Gatiss] do.
I really trust them, and theyve always listened to me about what I think.
Theyve always been very tasteful.
Im very, very protective of the effect that the character has.
That he should be treated with real reverence.
I absolutely trust that whatever decisions they make will be the right ones.
He was almost going to get into a fistfight with Peter Capaldi at one stage I think.
Tell Richie C I thank him for his passion, but no!
Presumably, post-Moriarty, you got a selection of Hollywood offers.
You must have been offered some villains in big films.
Theres definitely been offers.
But do you take the Tim Roth approach, though?
That he instructed his agent that anything independent, he couldnt turn away, he had to read it?
Is that the sort of ethos youre looking for?
Because Id imagine youd been offered fairly rich pickings, yet theres an unpredictability and intelligence to your choices?
And that is a real trap.
Ive seen it happen.
People live in these fantastic big houses, they play exactly the same thing, and theyre bored.
Ive got to ask before Im chucked out: whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?
[Laughs hard, then adopts a quiet voice].
Oh God, have I ever seen a Jason Statham movie?
I dont think Ive seen one…
Not even one of the Guy Ritchie ones?
Oh wait, Ive seenSnatch!
Seen it, or liked it?
Again though, youre going with seen, not edging towards liked there?
[Laughs very hard indeed, but gives nothing away in response to our cutting question] Cheeky bastard!
Andrew Scott, thank you very much!
Pride is in cinemas on September 12th.
