10 minutes with Dominic West

Could you ever read the news like Hector Madden, your character in The Hour?

I’d love a go at being an old-style newsreader, very patronising and with extraordinary hair. I’d do a pretty poor Paxman, though — I’m too lightweight, like MTV compared to him.

Of the characters you’ve played, which would you most like to be?

A rock star. I played a character called Kirk Cuddy in a heavy metal band called Steel Dragon [in Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg]. Unfortunately, I’m not that rock’n’roll, I only play a bit of clarinet and saxophone.

How do you wind down after work?

While playing Fred West in Appropriate Adult I read Keith Richards’ autobiography. It was a good fit because there’s something devil-like about Richards, but in a good way.

How proud are you of your Baltimore accent in The Wire?

People tell me it was good, but I still don’t believe them. I could only turn it on for the camera, almost like putting on a mask. Idris Elba kept up the accent, even off set. I never dared test my accent on any of the locals.

Can you handle yourself in a fight?

Not a chance. I am definitely flight over fight. I know Jimmy McNulty was tough, but I’m not handy at all.

How did you get involved in The Poetry App?

The late Josephine Hart used to invite me to her poetry readings. I learned so much.

Have you ever sent someone a love poem?

I used to do bad attempts at Thomas Hardy love poetry. A girlfriend at university was once presented with one about a bluebell wood. It must have worked — I got laid!

Are you a techie?

Not at all. My daughter Martha [13] shows me how to use everything. I get angry with it all too quickly. A guy once apologised to me for screaming publicly at his phone. I thought, ‘No apology needed, brother, that’s me.’

The Poetry App is free to download now.

The Hour begins on BBC Two later this month