Joseph Quinn is known for his debut role as Arthur Havisham in the BBC One drama Dickensian and Koner in series seven of Game of Thrones. More recently, he starred in the BBC’s four-part Sunday night drama Howards End as Leonard Best.

WHAT WAS THE WHOLE GAME OF THRONES EXPERIENCE LIKE?

Mad. I’m such a fan! I don’t know what I was expecting – maybe lobster for breakfast and gold encrusted cameras – but on arrival, of course, it’s just another film set. It was fun, everyone was lovely and scenes were great to do. All professionalism went out of the window as soon as I was given a sword.

HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO ACTING?

I wouldn’t say I have. I still consider myself as a cap in hand actor and it’s rare for one job to enable you to ‘break through’, as it were. It’s a culmination of the work you’ve done that leads to more, I think – or hope.

WAS DRAMA SCHOOL TOUGH?

It was a big help for me, I’ve been incredibly lucky. Sure I’ve had periods of unemployment but I’ve been able to sustain myself; stay clothed, fed and warm through acting, which I’m grateful for – and quite baffled by.

HOW EXCITING WAS HOWARDS END?

Brilliant, but without a doubt the most rigorous audition process I’ve been through – five rounds! But working on a script written by his magnificence, Kenneth Lonergan, was surreal and an enormous privilege.

ANYONE YOU’D LOVE TO WORK WITH?

Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett and Mark Rylance are acting royalty for me. And working with Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Deuce would be amazing.