Our politicians are too boring – I was inspired to play PM by Prince Charles
GABRIEL BYRNE says Prince Charles inspired his performance in Channel 4 political thriller Secret State.
The drama, which climaxes on Wednesday at 10pm, tells the story of a fatal explosion at a chemical factory on Teesside and the later death of the Prime Minister in an air accident.
Gabriel's character, deputy PM Tom Dawkins, is forced to step up — and uncovers a conspiracy.
The Hollywood star said there was no point emulating current politicians because they are too BORING.
Instead, he watched footage of Prince Charles to get inspiration.
He said: "You couldn't imitate David Cameron or Nick Clegg because there's nothing there to imitate.
"With Meryl Streep playing Thatcher, she had a caricature of a character to latch on to. She had the handbags, the voice, the wig. There's nothing to latch on to with Tony Blair, Cameron or Clegg in terms of their public persona.
"But I enjoy studying their body language. When they get out of cars, they button their coats because it gives them a subliminal sense of purpose and urgency.
"Prince Charles is always at his cuffs. There are little moments of giveaway nerves."
Inspiration ... Prince Charles
"I'd rather play the British Prime Minister than the American president. That's been done to death — Harrison Ford was on the wing of a plane as the President in Air Force One!
"But very few people have played a British Prime Minister, if you discount Churchill.
"Mind you, it's hard to think of The John Major Story being a gripping film. A man... a woman... a love of cricket!"
Secret State, inspired by the 1982 novel A Very British Coup, features other big names including Gina McKee, Charles Dance, Rupert Graves, Douglas Hodge and Ruth Negga.
Gina, who plays journalist Ellis Kane, said she would HATE to be a politician. She said: "It's a really tricky job. I wouldn't want to be a politician for the world.
"I admire someone who wants to dedicate their career to that. But every system is flawed. How that changes politicians' original intentions is really interesting."
After a high-profile film career, Gabriel won widespread critical acclaim for his role as psychotherapist Dr Paul Weston in the hit TV series In Treatment on Sky Atlantic.
That part reignited his reputation as not just a great actor but a serious heartthrob.
And Gabriel — dad to Jack, 22, and Romy, 20, by ex-wife Ellen Barkin — admits he is flattered by the attention at the age of 62.
He said: "Do I feel like a heartthrob? It's a very difficult question to answer, really. No, is the honest answer.
"My daughter called me up one day and said: 'Oh my God, Dad, sit down. You are on every bus in New York. It's mortifying!'
"And it truly IS mortifying to see yourself on the side of a bus.
"But you have to work. And as regards being a heartthrob, well, that's a compliment too."
Star's 'posh' fear
Against the grain ... Rupert Graves
RUPERT Graves feared being typecast as a posh pretty boy early in his career.
Rupert – Chancellor Felix Durrell in Secret State – said: "Because I was called Rupert, I was going down that public schoolboy route, which isn't really me at all. I did lots of theatre to get away from that.
"Casting people like you to be a 'type' but I chose parts that did not conform to that."
He has played Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock, and said: "What I do isn't very meaty but I love it."
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