Rupert Penry-Jones has admitted he finds it "much more fun" playing a villain.
The ‘Lucky Man’ actor stars in the third series of the Sky One drama as the evil Samuel Blake – opposite James Nesbitt’s DI Harry Clayton – and he revealed it was a wonderful part for him to tackle.
Asked if he prefers to take on the role of a bad guy, the former ‘Spooks’ star told TV & Satellite Week: "Yes, I much prefer it to being a good guy. It’s more fun. I’ve been doing an FX drama in Toronto called ‘The Strain’ where I’ve been playing a 2000-year-old vampire.
"He is even more of a crazy villain than Blake, so I’ve brought it down a few notches for this!"
Opening up about the character – who is seeking Harry’s lucky bracelet – Rupert, 47, explained his motivation for targeting the detective, and suggested he will be a worthy foe to the series’ troubled hero.
He added: "His parents have been lost in an explosion because of one of these bracelets. So he’s out to rid the world of them because he thinks they are evil. But he doesn’t care who gets hurt along the way.
"He has manipulated things to get Harry and the bracelets in a place where they can be damaged. Both men are forged in fire as Harry’s family died in a fire too. They are equally powerful but the bracelets tip the balance."
Lucky Man returns on Friday July 20 on Sky One at 9pm.
Rupert Penry-Jones prefers to play the villain
