Having risen to fame on the popular TV series Downton Abbey, to then playing the Beast in Disney’s most recent live action adaptation – he now undertakes one of his most challenging roles to date, playing the wordsmith Charles Dickens, in The Man Who Invented Christmas.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Stevens to discuss this role, and how we about getting in to the head of somebody of this nature. He tells us whether his relationship with Dickens’ work has changed since playing him on screen, and what his favourite Dickens novel is. We then ask about collaborating with Christopher Plummer and whether they did anything fun to mark the venerable actor’s birthday, which took place on set. Finally we speak about Apostle – the next feature from The Raid helmer Gareth Evans. Sounds slightly less violent that the filmmaker’s previous work…

Watch the full interview below…

Synopsis

Using real-life inspiration and a vivid imagination, author Charles Dickens brings Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in “A Christmas Carol,” forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

The Man Who Invented Christmas is released on December the 1st.