Anthony Head

This much I know: Anthony Head

The actor, 56, on enjoying the lines on his face and learning from animals

It’s nice to hear that someone enjoys your work. If I see someone I hugely admire I just bowl up to them and tell them. I’ve pitched up to Jeff Goldblum in the supermarket in LA. He was very sweet, very Jeff Goldblum.

Don’t put your telephone number in the phone directory. I inherited a French stalker from my brother [Murray Head] when I took over his role in the musical Chess. She used to call so often the answer machine broke.

You cannot go through life without change. If you don’t embrace change, you stand still and learn nothing. Milton Katselas [an acting teacher in LA] taught me that. If you don’t open the doors of perception there’s no adventure, no journey, no nothing.

It’s very strange being addressed by Klingons. I’ve done a couple of comic-book conventions now, and sometimes the make-up’s better than others.

I don’t know how actors live with each other. I couldn’t live with me. My partner, Sarah, works with animals, and she probably applies the same techniques to me.

Getting old is a heap of fun for an actor, because the older you get the better the roles get. The past three or four years have been really interesting.

Until the character starts speaking through you you’re just somebody putting on a voice. Sarah always told me that when I was in doubt I would put on an accent.

There’s no secret to a long-lasting relationship, although Sarah has said it’s that we spend an enormous amount of time apart. A sense of humour is of huge importance. It’s about tolerance, and liking the person you’re with. I adore Sarah.

I quite enjoy the lines on my face. Injecting yourself with poison is not a good idea. Where does it go? It’s got to go somewhere. I don’t like the saggy bit under my chin, though. I don’t think it’s worth having surgery for, but if it gets worse…

Doing Buffy the Vampire Slayer taught me not to get caught up in the hype. Alyson Hannigan and Sarah Michelle Gellar would talk about magazine covers, and I’d think: where’s mine? They were competing, but ultimately it’s a game that only lasts so long. It’s better to just get on with the job.

We shouldn’t do anything to an animal we wouldn’t do to a child. They’re incredible. We should try and learn a lot more from animals: patience, unconditional love…

Anthony Head is in Six Degrees of Separation at the Old Vic until 3 April