Good evening, anglophiles.
We might have a flashback episode on the horizon!
And he let us into the mind of his newMI-5character Lucas North.
Credit: Gareth Davies/Getty Images
And dont forget, the entire season 2 hits stores on Tuesday.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How are you?Richard Armitage: Good, just a little bit hot.
Its about 32 degrees [Celsius] today.
Its fine, though.
Is it burning inside Gisbornes leather outfit?Well, its slightly different this year.
Hes off the leash and hes turned to alcohol.
Hes a real mess.
So there is that sort of fire burning.
Thats what were filming at the moment, but beyond that Im not quite sure yet.
At this moment Keith Allen, the Sheriff of Nottingham, is trying to buy my costume.
And were in a little bit of a bidding war as to whos going to getmycostume.
He wants Gisbornes costume so that he can sell it.
But I think Ill try and get it just for myself as a bit of nostalgia.
Id find it very strange to think that that it is in could be in elses hands.
I think it would be very weird.
[Laughing] My blood and sweat is fused into the leather as well!
But that was quite an interesting partof the journey for me.
Are there any flashbacks in season 3?
I think thats one of the ideas that the writershave this year.
Do you know who will be playing your sister?Yes, were working together at the moment.
Its an actress called LaraPulver, whos relatively unknown.
Shes done a lot of theater work.Shes absolutely fantastic.
Shes cunning and shesdevious.
Shes incredibly beautiful and very sexy.
Shes going to be areally interesting ingredient on the show, I think.
But I had to try and find a way to forgive him forwhat he does.
I think it stems from the fact that I made him have somekind of faith.
Its a private faith.
Which perhaps gives him a glimmer of humanity orcompassion.
Its his failing in the show, but maybe thats what peoplefeel gives him the potential to be redeemed.
I really enjoyhim and forgive him.
You know, you have to do that when you play acharacter.
So thats what werestriving for at the moment.
What advice would you give Guy if you had the chance?Gosh, I dont know.
I think hes too far down the road now to giveadvice to [laughs].
Its like hes on a rollercoaster and hes right atthe top.
He has to take the fall in order tothen be redeemed.
How different was filmingMI-5in comparison to filmingRobin Hood?
Did you have the same input with your character as you do with Guy?Yes, I did.
It was great to have thatinput.MI-5is very different.
And, obviously,Robin Hoodis a period piece.
Its very away from myself.
Whereas withMI-5its much closer to my body weight, speed, and sound.
He was the best, the top of his field.
Hebasically went to Russia on an operation and was caught and imprisonedfor eight years.
So he spent eight years in a Russian jail wonderingwhy the British government has abandoned him.
He has to fight very hard to get back into the gridand back into the world of MI-5.
Hes a bit of an outsider.
Are there any parallels between Guy and Richard III?Sort of.
Im researching Richard III at the moment.
I suppose thebiggest parallel is this ambition that is all consuming and willultimately crush the person thats chasing it.
Thats been theoverriding theme of Guy right from the beginning.
Its ambition thatstarted out as I am fighting for my family name.
He wants it for himself and itsinsatiable.
Im interested inthe camp that says he wasnt the ruthless, ambitious, child murdererthat Shakespeare depicted.
You get a taste of thepotential of what it might be like.
Surely you would dive in and youwould run and grab it!
I wonder if thats what he really did.
Those arethe parallels for me really.
Ive always said Id loved to play Raskolnikov inCrime and Punishment.
That was one of my favorite novels.
Its already been done, but Id still quite like to investigate that role.
I tell you what: KurosawasThrone of Blood.
Thats where Im at at the moment: Something kind of epic, dramatic, and atmospheric.
Obviously I wouldnt be Japanese.
It was a great piece.
I played the Rum Tum Tugger,Gus, Macavity, among a number of different parts.
ButIm not a bad singer.
What is the Havoc Tour?
[Laughing] Its an imaginary rock tour.
I got sent a t-shirt by someonewho created it.
Yes, maybe Ill singon the Havoc Tour!
Do you think youll ever make a run at break into the U.S.?God, Id love to.
Anything that a) raises my profile and b) is aninteresting role to play.
You look at some at the television thatAmerica is making at the moment, stuff likeDamagesandHeroes.
Brilliant shows like that.
And to spend six weeks laughing like that, and reallyenjoying doing that kind of performance.
Idlove to do some more comedy.
What does guy feel when he looks at the Sheriff?Thats quite a hard one to describe.
I think he sees a poisoned dwarfwhom he absolutely despises but simply cannot live without.
Its veryinteresting because in series 3, the relationship becomes severed andwere pitted against each other.
And its very very difficult for Guyto function without that man.
I couldnt be poor, because Id quite like to go around toparties.
Does your nephew play with your Guy of Gisborne action figure?
[Laughing] He hasnt got one!
Hes got a little Robin Hood hoodie.
Heputs that on while running in front of the television trying to shootme.
But Im really into Keane and Radiohead.
The Feeling are greatat the moment, I really like that band.
What in British entertainment would you recommend to American anglophiles?British entertainment?
Something thats typically British, you mean?
I would say karaoke but thats Japanese.
Or something on U.K. TV thats interesting or was interesting to you.
Like, when we asked Simon Pegg, he mentionedGarth Marenghis Dark Place.What did he say?
God, thats really clever isnt it?
Well, Id say seethe Coldplay tour.
Theyre coming to Budapest and I cant wait.
Itsfestival season, isnt it?
Do you ever think theyll be aDibleyreunion episode?
Will we see Harry and Geraldine with kids?Do you know what?
And I waslike, why?
What do you mean?
And he said, Well nothing, were just notgoing to burn the set just yet.
That would be great wouldnt it?
A Christmas special thatshows where everyone is in a couple of years?
I would love it.
I only just found out that its not really shown there anymore.Thats such a shame.
Well, when I talk to them, I will definitely bringthat up.
Ill say, just play it.
There also might be a little bitof a wait forRobin Hoodseries 3, so I hope people are patient.
