It's so different from anything I've done before

AS HE TAKES THE ROLE OF A SINISTER MALE NANNY IN MALICE, JACK WHITEHALL JOINS CO-STAR DAVID DUCHOVNY TO DISCUSS THE NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. BY LYNN RUSK

- BY LYNN RUSK

JACK Whitehall, known for his sarcastic, self-deprecating stand-up style, has been taking on comedic roles since the early days of his career.

“I really relish the opportunity to play a part that’s so different from anything I've done before,” explains the London-born star.

“Getting to lose myself in a character and flex acting muscles I’ve never used before was great.

“That's what's amazing about this job, when you get the chance to really challenge yourself.”

James, who won a BAFTA for his sitcom Rev, he wrote the series around Jack.

“I've been lucky enough to get to know Jack through a few projects, like Decline and Fall and some others that haven't happened yet but I got to know him fairly well,” says the writer. “Around the time we came up with the idea of a ‘manny’ psychological thriller, we thought of Jack for the role.

“We wanted someone who could be a believable, funny and charming manny, the kind of person you'd welcome into your home, but with a hidden darkness behind that facade.

He adds: “I’ve always known Jack had the capacity to play that side of a character; it’s just that no one had asked him yet.

“The role and the show were built around him, and he was very involved from the beginning.

“I really enjoy that process; when you have the right actor, writing with them in mind can make the show so much more distinctive.”