‘I had lunch with two spooks. They were brilliant and discreet’

John le Carré is enjoying a revival, with TV’s The Night Manager and now Our Kind

Of Traitor. Are you a fan? I’ve read him and enjoyed him. Books like

Smiley’s People and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I read those years ago – the Cold War L e Carré. I’ve read The Night Manager too; Larry Kasdan gave me a copy when we were making Dreamcatcher. He said, ‘You must play this!’ I read it and stuck it on my shelf. How would you describe Hector, your character in Our Kind Of Traitor? Hector is a maverick loner who has constantly got himself into trouble by speaking truth to authority and continues to get himself in trouble. And again, within the short space of the movie, decides to act unilaterally and break ranks, to do what he thinks is the good thing, the right thing. What research did you do? I went to Special Forces Club and had a lunch with – for want of a better word – two spooks working for the British government. They were brilliant and discreet, while also being indiscreet – happy to share titbits. Did Homeland change your career dramatically? Well none of us foresaw what Homeland would become, would be. It became a phenomenon. Brody was a complicated character and people loved to hate him, or loved him, sided with him in spite of everything. But he made people feel uneasy and the relationship with Carrie was an uneasy relationship. Noone was ever quite sure who he was. And I don’t think it’s easy to cast someone after that. Your movie choices – like Keane – have always been unique. How come? I’m very happy doing the stuff I do. I love doing things like Dreamcatcher… Aliens exploding out of people’s bottoms! And I loved doing

Keane. I think I have quite Catholic tastes. You’re back on TV as a hedge fund manager in

Billions. What did you learn about these guys? That the financial industry now is a big casino! You can create any bet you want, just like you can create any bet you want at Ladbrokes. That’s essentially what these guys do. JM

ETA | 13 May Our Kind Of Traitor opens next month.