James Nesbitt: I take dark acting roles home

Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt has told how he struggles not to take his work home with him.
Jimmy Nesbitt in his role as killer dentist Colin Howell in ITV drama 'The Secret'Jimmy Nesbitt in his role as killer dentist Colin Howell in ITV drama 'The Secret'
Jimmy Nesbitt in his role as killer dentist Colin Howell in ITV drama 'The Secret'

The star of ‘Cold Feet’, 51, said that he found it hard to let go of darker roles, particularly the 2007 horror serial Jekyll.

He told Radio Times: “While I was filming Jekyll, my wife eventually said, ‘You’re going to have to stay in a hotel’.

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“Even though it was written by Steven Moffat and was funny, it was still dark, and you do carry those things home with you.

“I also found it very hard to decompress after (2014 drama) The Missing.”

Among the other roles he has recently played was that of real-life Northern Irish killer dentist Colin Howell, in the programme ‘The Secret’.

Nesbitt said that the return of the hit comedy ‘Cold Feet’ came at the perfect time for him.

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“Turning 50 can be scary. I was dreading it as I’d gone through a separation (from wife Sonia).

“I’d been doing The Hobbit for two years. It’s been documented that I struggled a bit with that job and I came back thinking, ‘Is there going to be something for me to do’?”

Nesbitt’s co-star John Thomson spoke of the moment he heard the much-loved series was returning.

He told the Radio Times: “I was toying with the idea of panto, playing the dame at the Stockport Plaza, and my agent said: ‘I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. Are you sitting down?’

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“I said: ‘Yeah, I’m on a train.’ He said: ‘Cold Feet’s coming back’.”

Nesbitt added: “We’re all very hopeful that people are kind and will enjoy and embrace it. There will be critics out there who cannot wait to hammer it.”

He also revealed that, in addition to acting, he also owns “all the trailers for Game Of Thrones – make-up trucks, the works”, after having bought a facilities firm called G&H Film & Television Services three years ago.

The new series of ‘Cold Feet’ is expected to air next Monday on ITV at 9pm.

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