Callum Blue (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl) Interview

Playing a likeable and eligible young doctor in the second series of the ITV2 drama Secret Diary Of A Call Girl made a pleasant change for Callum Blue.

“Alex is simply a nice guy,” he says. “And that’s pretty weird for me as usually I play quirky or horrible characters, never the boyfriend.”

Callum continues: “I really enjoyed playing Alex as he is secure in himself which is something I’m going through in my life right now. I’m settling into my body and spirit a bit more so it was really good to play somebody who knows who he is and is comfortable with himself.

“The trouble starts when he gets to know Hannah and she really doesn’t know who she is. My character balances her out but also makes her see how messed up her life is. Alex is the guy who turns her world upside down but she also has an effect on him; makes him darker.”

Inevitably Alex discovers that his girlfriend Hannah has an alter ego Belle. Callum explains: “Alex needs to know if he has fallen for someone who doesn’t exist. The show is a great essay on how relationships can affect us.

“It would be a real shock for someone to discover they were going out with a prostitute but it would also be a shock to find out your partner was married or gay. But it happens more than we think.

“We are all guilty of disguising the truth sometimes to try and be what the other person wants us to be because we all want to be loved. That is natural.”

Callum is used to playing alongside strong leading ladies having appeared in Dirt with Courtney Cox and The Princess Diaries 2 with Anne Hathaway.

“Billie is a great actress and really shines in the role. She certainly raised my game. She is a powerful woman even though she is still young and this role realises that.

“She is really funny, very dry and a bit cutting which I like a lot. Billie has a very British sense of humour which I’ve missed as I’ve been working in the States for six years.”

Callum left drama school and a week later was screen testing with Hilary Swank. A brief return to the UK to film As If heralded his breakthrough in LA where he has worked ever since in shows like Dirt with Courtney Cox.

He laughs: “I had such a huge crush on Courtney and what was worse is that her husband David was directing. I think she probably knows the affect she has on people as she is a very charismatic woman. I was like a little school boy around her.”

An Essex boy at heart, Callum made LA his home but is quick to realise the pros and cons of living in America.

“In LA people can be a little crazy so you have to sieve through to find good friends. People get up at 5.30am to jog but the good side is no one drinks very much so it is easier to stay healthy. I didn’t realise till I lived there that the reason people are so vibrant and love life is because they exercise and stay sober.

“The weather is an obvious factor too although I actually like London in the dark weather - it’s gothic and romantic. I love the rain.”

Callum has just finished making the film Young People F***ing. He has also appeared in The Tudors, Dead Like Me and Grey’s Anatomy.