IN HIS OWN WORDS: Mark Strong

Mark (Deep State, 9pm, Fox) has been a regular on film and TV since his breakthrough in Our Friends In The North in 1996. Here’s what the 54-year-old has had to say along the way…

On his original career plans: ‘I studied law [at Munich University], though I gave up that idea when I suspected playing a barrister was probably much more fun than being one.’ On his punk youth, in bands with names such as Electric Hoax and Private Party: ‘They were school bands… That was the time of punk and “here’s three chords, go and form a band”. We literally did that, and played very loud bad music that we loved.’

On losing his hair: ‘When I decided to crop what was left of my hair, I thought, “It’s all over. I’m never going to work again; it’s basket-weaving for me from now on.” But what actually happens is your casting changes – you suddenly start to get a lot of villains and coppers and soldiers, and even the odd sensitive vicar.’ On forging a career with more than 60 film credits – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Kingsman, to name but two – but eschewing fame: ‘I’ve seen people I know very well become extremely famous, and there is nothing about it that I would recommend.’ On working on the Jim Davidson sitcom Home James! in 1989: ‘That was extraordinary. He was a big gag merchant… your job was to get your lines in whenever and wherever you could because he’d go off script constantly. It was a big learning curve.’