Russell Tovey would have needed "stunt legs" if he’d had to play football in ‘The Pass’.
The 35-year-old star plays soccer star Jason, who is struggling with his sexuality, in the upcoming movie – a role which has earned him a Best Actor nomination at the Evening Standard British Film Awards – but he admits he isn’t hugely interested in sport and was glad he didn’t have to show any skills in the film.
He said: "I went to Arsenal, which was the first football match I’d ever been to. That was great just to sample the atmosphere and to see how the players are treated like gods.
"And then I watched the documentary ‘Class of 96’.
"Thankfully, you never see me play football in the film because I would have had to have stunt legs.
"If I’d had to play football, there’s no way I’d have been nominated for anything, apart from Biggest K**b head."
Russell spends a lot of the movie in just his pants and is proud he didn’t need any help padding out his briefs.
He said: "It’s all Tovey time! That’s all my fruit and veg down there."
‘The Pass’ is set across three different time periods and Russell was happy to work at changing his physique for each era.
He told heat magazine: "There are three separate time periods, so I had to get my body looking different for each one.
"I was at my thickest when we filmed the later scenes, then I slimmed down and did lots of cardio and carbs to play Jason when he was younger.
"I think that has a big effect in the film, to see his journey.
"It also feels like you’ve earned it as an actor to have to work out and get your body looking a certain way.
"I’m always impressed when I read what an actor had to go through and now I’ve done that."
Russell Tovey relieved he didn’t have to show soccer skills
