Clive put off holiday for thriller

Clive Owen has revealed he cancelled his holiday to make new film Shadow Dancer.

The Closer star plays an MI5 agent in the thriller, adapted from Tom Bradby's novel set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

The married father-of-two admitted he didn't think he would take the job when he was sent the script, because he wanted to spend time with his family.

Clive said: "I hadn't read the book. To be honest I was looking to take a break and the script came and I didn't think I was going to do it because I was coming to the end of a film and I was a bit tired.

"And then I read the script and I really loved it. I thought it was just a tight, taut, really well constructed piece of writing. And then I spoke at length to James [Marsh director] and he spoke so intelligently and smartly about it that I had to do it."

The British actor was once tipped to play James Bond, but he insisted this film was not your typical spy thriller.

Clive said: "I wouldn't call it an action film at all. It's a very tight, tense thriller and it's very much about the characters within it. To a certain extent all the characters in the film are kind of compromised and trapped and in a difficult situation."

The Inside Man star is set to play a teacher in his next film Words And Pictures.

He revealed: "It's not really a comedy but it's got lots of humour in it. It's a really lovely script and if everything works out it's going to be myself and Juliet Binoche."