Mackenzie Crook ('Three And Out')

Digital Spy recently caught up with Mackenzie Crook (The Office) in a swanky Soho setting for a natter about his controversial comedy film Three And Out. The British movie revolves around Crook's dejected train driver Paul's desperate bid to find a suicide victim to plunge in front of his wheels in order to pick up a lucrative pay-off. His luck appears to be in when he encounters suicidal tramp Tommy (Colm Meaney). Here's what he had to say...

What are your views on Tube drivers’ union Aslef’s negative reaction to the film and the surrounding media controversy?
"It's a bit disappointing, I have to admit. These objections have been raised without the people having seen the movie. I don't know if that's our fault for having advertised it wrongly. The simple premise involves those sensitive issues, but that's not what the movie is about. I think when the people that are objecting see the movie, if indeed they go to see it, they will be pleasantly surprised. I mean, a movie that dwells on people falling under trains is not something I want to go and see or be involved in. My character Paul is traumatised by it and those issues are dealt with sensitively."

Did you strike up an instant rapport and understanding with Colm Meaney on set?
"It was great working with Colm. He's an extraordinary actor and understands his job so well. He's that much more experienced from me, so I learnt an awful lot from him, watching him work... I learnt from him perhaps to speak up when I didn’t necessarily think things should be done a certain way. But then he can also take direction very well as well and trust the director."

How did you approach your role as a train driver?
"I didn't do extensive research, but we did shoot some scenes on the Underground. And yeah, those scenes where I'm driving the train - I am genuinely driving the train. I was trained up how to do that and that was a good experience."

Did you realise you'd end up snogging the latest Bond girl Gemma Arterton in the film?
"No, that's a bonus. One for the CV. She didn't know she was a Bond girl at the time. It was an interesting thing to be offered a script with a romantic storyline in there, as I'm not often offered those sorts of parts. It was interesting to see if I could pull it off, as it were."

How did you find filming the sex scene?
"It was nervewracking. I have to admit that I wasn't looking forward to it because it's such an intimate, awkward thing to do with someone you're not involved in a relationship with. I think Gemma was as nervous about it as I was... but it was all done very sensitively and we did it in two or three takes. It was all done and dusted on a closed set."

Does the fact you’re constantly referred to as having ‘cadaverous’ looks upset you at all?
"A little bit. It's 'corpse-like'! I know I'm thin and I guess it's the bags under my eyes, but it's a little bit unfair. But that's the look that has got me most of the parts I've played. So if I looked like Russell Crowe I'd probably be unemployed."

Three And Out is released nationwide on Friday, April 25.

> Click here for our review of the film