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Despite such praise, Rowan was reluctant to take up the role. “It took me a long time to decide to do it,” he nods. “I was about to say ‘give it a go,’ but I don’t think you should approach
a part like this in that way. You have to believe you can play it as well as anyone. “It’s not the seriousness that’s difficult. It’s the plainness and naturalistic performance that is
required, both in this character and in this kind of drama. A friend of mine warned me before I did it; he said, ‘You’ll be playing someone much closer to yourself than you’ve played before,
and you have to be ready for that.’ And I was ready for it – but I still found it difficult because I’ve never wanted to play myself. I’ve always preferred to play someone who’s definitely
somebody else.” The risk has certainly paid off, so is this the start of a long relationship with the gentle French detective? “Well, there are a lot of novels,” he smiles. “It will depend
on many things: my time and inclination, the appetite for them… So the answer is that I don’t know.” For our sake, we hope that Rowan can be persuaded. _MAIGRET, MONDAY, 9PM, ITV_