Emmett Scanlan has said he had to pinch himself while working with Gillian Anderson on The Fall.
Ex-Hollyoaks actor Emmett stars in Monday's new BBC2 crime drama, but told The Irish Sun he couldn't get over his famous co-star.
He said: "She's beautiful and a brilliant actress to watch. When we were filming, there was one scene where Gillian has a monologue and she's talking about serial killers.
"I just caught myself and thought, 'This is Scully from The X-Files. I can't believe it'. I had to pinch myself to make sure it was all real."
The former Hollyoaks actor is also enjoying playing a completely different sort of part from his bad boy character Brendan Brady.
He said: "It's a bit strange. In the film Charlie Casanova I played a sociopath, in Hollyoaks I was Brendan the psychopath - now I'm the good guy.
"I don't really mind being typecast as long as I'm cast. But it's great to try something different."
Emmett plays DC Glen Martin in The Fall, which also features another ex Hollyoaks star, Karen Hassan.
In the Channel 4 soap Emmett played one half of a gay couple, opposite Kieron Richardson. The pair have been nominated for best on-screen partnership at the British Soap Awards on May 18.
