Marc Warren has revealed how the long nails he wears in Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell proved to be a pain.

The Musketeers actor, who plays the Gentleman with the thistle-down hair in the BBC adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s novel of the same name, admitted he even had to limit his visits to the loo because the talons got in the way.

Marc Warren as the Gentleman with the Thistle-down hair (BBC/JSMN Ltd/Matt Squire)
Marc Warren as the Gentleman with the thistle-down hair (Matt Squire/BBC/JSMN Ltd)

“The greatest challenge was finding the voice that fitted into Susanna Clarke’s description of the Gentleman. Probably the most difficult element beyond that was the long nails that I wore,” he said.

“These were not easy to wear when it came to toilet breaks. Consequently I had to drink little and I couldn’t use any gadgets for texting or emails in between scenes.”

Marc was persuaded to join the drama by television presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

“My introduction to the book was unusual. I was having lunch in Cape Town with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan and they suddenly said to me, if they ever film Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell, you have to play the Gentleman with the thistle-down hair,” he recalled.

“This was their favourite book and my first introduction to Susanna Clarke’s extraordinary world. A year later I heard the BBC were dramatising the book so I got myself an audition and got the part.”

He added: “Without that introduction the show would have, no doubt, passed me by.”

Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (BBC/JSMN Ltd/Matt Squire)
Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Matt Squire/BBC/JSMN Ltd)

Eddie Marsan plays Mr Norrell, with Bertie Carvel as Jonathan Strange in the BBC drama, alongside Alice Englert, Samuel West and Charlotte Riley.

“The Gentleman is a gift of a part for an actor to play,” Marc said. “He is a Faerie who reigns over his kingdom of Lost Hope with regality and grace combined with petulance and great selfishness.

“Alongside this he has hypnotic and magical powers that can induce trance like states that leave women speechless and men reduced to rubble.”

Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell continues on BBC One at 9pm on Sundays.