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Well, they sent me the script; I read it and I liked it.
But no, a fun character, well rounded.
This guy seemed curiously gentle and introverted in a way, even though he was a DJ.
Pat felt slightly more grounded than most of the other characters.
Thank you, its lovely to hear that.
How familiar with Alan Partridge were you before you got the script?
Not at all, not at all.
Im either in Los Angeles or Im in Spain thats the two places we spend our time.
Im in Calgary in Canada at the moment while Im doingHell On Wheels, so…I wasnt familiar.
The PR people have to explain the shows to me.
So, no, I wasnt familiar with Alan Partridge at all.
Did you base Pat on anyone?
Not really, no.
I changed a couple of aspects of him, I guess.
He was a bit more tragic in the script maybe…less sharp.
He wouldve been involved in in his early days Rock Against Racism, things like that.
You say the script was frequently refined on set…
Scenes were always being looked at.
Steve is a writer himself, of course, he wrote the genius film Philomena.
I think his way of working is…he tries to work in a very similar way.
And how did you find improvising?
Is it tricky keeping things realistic and character-focussed when youre making it up?
No, I didnt find it a challenge.
In the theatre, in a way…
Very often comedy comes from peoples attitudes.
The following question has a slight spoiler in the answer.
Youre safe again after the picture.
Youve done a few action films, so was part of the appeal of Partridge sending those up?
Hes doing his ramble thing around the pier with the gun…I think that bits very funny.
Thats very much an element that I love.
Hes really taken to that like a…[adopts Transatlantic drawl] like a bird to the air.
And finally, whats your favourite Jason Statham film?
Colm Meaney, thank you very much.
