What was the attraction of working with Shane Meadows?

I'd obviously seen "TwentyFourSeven" and "A Room For Romeo Brass" which in particular I thought was a beautiful wee film. I got in touch with Shane independently, no agents or stuff like that, just to say, "Look if you're ever interested in working with me, I'd be delighted". Thank god he was. The talking about this film began 15 months prior to shooting. Getting involved early, I've done that in many of my films and that's the way I love to work.

How would you describe your character Jimmy?

I genuinely feel that Jimmy is probably one of the most three-dimensional characters I've ever played. You see every facet of this man, yet you don't know this man and that fascinated me. Ninety percent of Jimmy's scenes are improvised, I wanted to try to portray a fully rounded guy - you see him fight with his sister, you see him loving his wife, you see him trying with his kid and then you see him messing it up. He's true and real. Women understand the character - the difference between the guy you should be with and the guy you want to be with. Every woman has been there. So that's what I mean about Jimmy, I think he's the most complete character.

Your characters have this quality that, as an audience, you're afraid they might explode at any second?

It's about trying to get in a state of being and creating a seamless performance, that's what I'm always trying to achieve. You're never nervous when you watch me because hopefully what I can bring to a part is a sincerity, an honesty, and a calmness. Therefore if violence is to happen, it happens very quickly out of that and it's genuine.

Have you ever completely lost yourself in a character?

I think that's acting at its absolute best. I've had three moments in my entire career where I felt that I lost it - it's the most unbelievable and fantastic sensation. "Trainspotting" is one of them, another one was in Cracker and another one was in the TV show, Looking After Jo Jo. The scene in "Trainspotting" is the one in the bar. I tell you it's a freaky thing, when you're looking at yourself and you see these eyes and it's not you anymore - it's somebody else. It's fantastic though. It's why I do it.