Spooks, snogging and Doctor Who

Jimster: How did you get the part in Spooks, and what did you think about it?

Tony Head: I went up for it. I was sent the script and turned to see what sort of dialogue the character did, and there was this staggeringly beautiful speech about disillusionment.

I worked with the writer in the National Theatre on a play he translated. It was Howard Brenton. I was really bowled over about it. It was a lovely, lovely piece and I'm very proud of it.

Katie: Didn't it feel odd having to snog Anya?

Tony Head: Yes It really did. We found it very difficult, and my oldest daughter Emily found it very distasteful. It's an odd thing, snogging one of your closest friends. And young too! But it wasn't age, it was that we knew each other so well. The only thing I'd find harder would be to snog Alyson. That I couldn't do because we're such good friends.

Fsm_fan: Manchild was described as a British Sex and the City for 50-year old males. Could you ever see yourself as a similar character in Sex and the City?

Tony Head: Yeah. There's a cut off point which we say there is for a Manchild person, 30 max, so there might be a problem with the girls from Sex and the City.

Jason Lowe: Are you going to be the next Doctor Who? Please say you are thinking about it. You would be an amazing Doctor.

Tony Head: Thank you. I did audition for it long ago for the movie that Paul McGann did. We talked about it, but Paul was who they wanted and ended up with. Now, because I already have an icon attached to my name... you can't do too many of those. You need to try and keep it varied.

One of the things about being in actor is you have to try and construct a career, and use opportunities to the maximum. I think Doctor Who might be a little limiting now. But if a fantastic script came my way, I'd say yes.