-What's it like being in The Winter's Tale with Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench?

The whole cast Ken and Rob have assembled are unbelievably brilliant to work with. Every rehearsal was like having a front row seat at a masterclass. I always sit in the wings and watch the final scene of The Winter's Tale.

Judi commands that scene with such effortless grace and charm. Has me in bits most nights. It feels like a really strong ensemble piece with each individual getting their moment. I've never been involved in anything like a worldwide live broadcast of a play before. Mind boggling to think that there were people watching us, live, all over the world.

-How did you feel winning an Olivier award for your portrayal of Ray Davies in Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon?

That was such a surreal night, feels like a bit of a dream. Great to have my family there with me. I'd been involved with Sunny Afternoon since the first workshop so taking it from that to Hampstead Theatre, to the west end, to then have the show clean up at the Oliviers was just incredible.

-Is singing something you plan to pursue further in the future?

It definitely seems to be a recurring theme at the moment. I've always enjoyed singing and when it coincides with the acting I always have fun. I really miss being in a band so I might try to get a few mates together and see what happens.

-Shakespeare versus West End musical - how differently do you approach the two?

Not differently at all. If it's a good script, all the information you need is in there. I've been blessed to have a Joe Penhall script followed by a William Shakespeare script. Ed Hall and Ken and Rob have a similar approach to throwing you straight in and getting you up on your feet straight away which I love.

-Having appeared in both film (Monuments Men) and TV (Lark Rise to Candleford), do you prefer one to the other?

I love being on set as much as I love being in a rehearsal room or on stage. TV and film only really differ in scale. Monuments Men was epic. Tanks, trucks, jeeps, guns, hundreds of extras, loads of people on every department. Where as filming something like Starlings felt very intimate and cozy. From what I've seen they both run on tea and biscuits.

-How did you get your start in the acting profession and was it always what you wanted to do?

I loved it from going on stage when I was about five in a production of South Pacific at the Mercury theatre in Colchester. I moved to London when I was 18 and got a job in a bar and a terrible agent for a few years who I'd found in an ad on the back of a paper.

I was clueless. I had no nepotistic route in so I thought If I apply to the top drama schools and train, I might get spotted by a great agent at the end and luckily that happened. I got my first job (Larkrise to Candleford) while I was in my final term and was on set for the first time the day after our final shows.

-Where do you live in London and what do you like about living in the city? Do you have family with you?

I live between Highgate and Muswell Hill and I love it. Being so close to the woods is amazing. I'm from a little village called Kelvedon in Essex and Highgate has a similar cozy feel. I've got my dad not far away in West Hampstead. I love being close enough to jump into all the vibrancy and stuff that's going on and then retreat back into the coziness of a leafy village when it all gets a bit much. Im still in awe of this city every time I cross Waterloo bridge.

-When you get time off what do you like to do?

I'll sit and muck about with some sort of instrument for an afternoon. I watch a lot of movies. I love eating out. Love a good quiet cozy pub. Looking forward to spending some time with my family on my next break. I have a little nephew who I'm hoping to be a Funkle to.

-What other roles have you got lined up?

Nothing lined up yet but that's always exciting. I've got a few more weeks before the panic sets in. I'm reading a lot of scripts that have come through and going for meetings so we'll see...

John Dagleish stars as Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale (until January 16), and Policeman in Harlequinade (until January 13) as part of The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company season Plays at the Garrick. Details: branaghtheatre.com