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‘Walking Dead’ star: I would be the first to die in an apocalypse

English actor Andrew Lincoln as Detective Rick Grimes in post-apocalyptic show Walking Dead (Photo courtesy of Fox International Channels)
English actor Andrew Lincoln as Detective Rick Grimes in post-apocalyptic show Walking Dead (Photo courtesy of Fox International Channels)

A stark contrast to his alpha male character as detective Rick Grimes, Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln admitted that he will be the first to die in an event of a similar zombie apocalypse that took place in the horror drama.

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore over the phone before an interview with David Letterman, the 39-year-old English actor laughed when he was asked to imagine the same setting in the real world. "I will be terrible if it happens and the first to be dead. I will be absolutely useless but that's probably why I am an actor. Otherwise, I will be in the army," he chuckled.

Lincoln, who is currently still based in England, is thankful that his family is able to travel with him for work. "I wouldn't do the job if they weren't with me," said the doting father of two. "We all move out to America for half a year. After filming, we move back to England and they go back to school," he added.

Although he has no immediate plans to move to the U.S., he is keeping his options open. "I never say never. I love working in America and I definitely want to keep working and playing American roles," he said.

Filmed in Atlanta, the grueling and intense filming schedule in the state of Georgia is "apocalyptic", said Lincoln referring to the weather in summer. But this helps to unify the cast. "It is the tightest group of actors that I have the pleasure of working with in a long, hard, sweaty and bloody environment. But it is a lot of fun," he asserted. "You also get a good workout from the show," he laughed.

Speaking about fellow cast members, Lincoln is especially proud of his "television wife" Sarah Wayne Callies (who plays a tough mother of one Lori Grimes). Best known for playing Dr Sara Tancredi in hit series Prison Break, Lincoln said, "She is a brilliant actress and a joy to with. Everyone on set looks to Sarah and younger less experienced actors ask her for advice too."

As for Jon Bernthal who plays his stubborn deputy in the show, Lincoln joked that "he can't stand the man" before adding he is a great friend and brother. "He is one of my favourite people on the planet and he is my American family," he said.

The huge success of the show has left the Love Actually actor "constantly baffled." "I couldn't have imagined a greater way to be introduced to the American public and I couldn't have wished for a better role to open up a whole new casting opportunity in this country and around the world," he said. Despite having read a couple of film scripts, he is putting them on hold and taking time out to be a dad at the moment.

He revealed he will be looking to take up a role either in theatre or movie during the gap between the third and fourth season of the show if it happens. "But my loyalty and commitment is still with the show," he added.

Walking Dead Season 2 returns 9 March, 10pm on Fox Movies Premium (StarHub TV Ch 622).

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