He's a consummate professional and it was fantastic working opposite him, even though it was only for a little bit with the way the scenes worked. He's very gracious, he listened to my ideas, put forward his own. He's very giving and when we've been out socially — he's a really nice man.

Your saying he's been in and out of jail, it's hard to picture him like that — he's a small man and people love him on set so to see the news it's a bit of a shame but he's obviously wrestling with his own demons.

It's interesting you say that because I always imagine he's similar to Jack Bauer, wrestling with things. Maybe that's just my romantic view of the character.

Probably.

Every time I see a news story I think: "Mmmm, Jack Bauer's up to things."

Yes he's a lovely man and you never know how things go — when you're very famous people get in your face and it could just be one day that someone does something at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Your stint on 'Lost' as Emeka — what was that like?

It was fantastic - to go off to Hawaii. They flew me first class to Hawaii, I stayed in an amazing hotel and I was there for ten days, filmed six so I could see the island.

It was a bit weird also because it was one of my first shows here. To see the speed with which they work and the professionalism, it was daunting and good.

Who looks the most like their onscreen character up close?

The guys all look exactly the same but the girls look different without make-up.

So I shouldn't ask who looks the worst?

No, I wouldn't tell you.

What's been the most exciting acting scene you?ve ever done?

When I did 'Pirates of Caribbean', doing a scene with Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley — that was fun.

What show would you most want to be on next?

I'd like to be on my own really successful show in the US. If it's a show that's already on — there's a show on here at the moment called 'Southland' I'd really like to do. And 'Prison Break' but ultimately I'd like to be in a show that's new and be one of the main characters in it. Something that's edgy and that comes up as a success.

What sort of genre?

Drama and action — something intense and serious.

And your plans right now?

I've just finished 'Darfur' — the movie industry's starting to pick up now so my plan for the next year is to do some really good films.