Page 3 Profile: John Simm, actor

He was brilliant in The Village. Does Hollywood beckon?

One suspects not. For a start, Simm would have to get used to more people asking for pictures autographs.

Isn’t that what acting is about – the fame and recognition?

Not according to Simm, who in an interview with the Radio Times suggested he was sick and tired of people making demands on his time. Perhaps predictably, it’s fans of Doctor Who that are the most bothersome. The Life on Mars actor played the Master in five episodes of the BBC One show, and the Whovians haven’t allowed him to forget it. “I do get a lot of Doctor Who. God almighty, I’ll be so happy when that’s gone from my life. They’re lovely, I’m sure, but I won’t miss it,” he moaned. “It’s great to be into something, but for goodness’ sake, really? I’m not the Master, I’m not that evil Time Lord who rules the galaxy, I’m just in Tesco with my kids. Leave me alone!”

Isn’t he meant to say “I love my fans”?

Somewhere on planet showbiz, there is a furious PR wishing he’d said exactly that, but Simm isn’t known for following the party line. In a move that will surely make judging panels wary of nominating him for anything ever again, he railed against award ceremonies. “I’ve always found that whole thing really weird. You’re not that bothered about it, because acting’s not a competition. It’s all subjective. But when you do get nominated, of course you’ve got a competitive streak and you want to win it and you get really pissed off when you don’t. It’s just a horrible thing to have to go through, so I prefer to have nothing to do with them.” When he attended the TV Baftas in 2011, he was disappointed when his Sky One show Mad Dogs lost out to Jim Broadbent’s Best Drama Serial. “I got a lot of s*** because I didn’t hide anything and didn’t pretend. You’re supposed to clap, aren’t you? I don’t even watch the Oscars. I’m not arsed.”