Claudia Winkleman interviews Rupert Penry Jones

Catch up on this month's Claudia's Highflyers interview

Rupert Penry Jones is so freakishly handsome that it’s quite hard to even look at him. He’s probably most famous for his role in Spooks but he also won great acclaim for his roles in Burn Up and North Square. He lives with his wife, the freakishly (handy that they both are) beautiful actress Dervla Kirwan and their two children. He’s just become the face of Austin Reed and in their campaign he can even pull off wearing a wool hat. Which can be hard to do.  Find out how Rupert likes to travel in style as he tells me his travel do's and don'ts - brought to you by BAA.

I am, you could say, obsessed by flying. I love the check in and the airplane food (seriously) and I even love the carousel at the end of the flight. As it's holiday season and all I can think about is Heathrow, I decided to ask Rupert Penry Jones if he feels the same way. And I discovered that he does share my weird passion for flying plus he counts his underwear and fancies a bit of Lily Allen. Can’t argue with that….

What inspires you to travel?

It’s probably work. I like acting because you get to travel with it and you get to really see a country. In fact there are a few countries that I’ve actually saved to go to for a job. For example Australia is one of them, probably too far to go with the family or for fun but I’d love to really understand it and get immersed and see it properly and that’s the wonderful thing about my job. I recently filmed in Madagascar and just by working there I got to see a different side to it. It’s a different experience than I’d get as a tourist

What’s your preferred reading material, books or magazines?

Books. I generally don’t read magazines; I just look at the pictures. If I buy one it will probably be Stuff as I love my gadgets

Hooray. Can you recommend a great holiday read?

Last year on holiday in Greece, I read a brilliant book called The Island by Victoria Hislop. I was reading it on the island it was set which was pretty good

That's clever

It was rather

Is that the best book ever. On earth? For a holiday?

Probably the best holiday read is The Magus by John Fowles

Okidoke. What kind of music do you like to listen to while flying, or do you prefer to watch films?

I prefer to watch TV shows and films. At the airport I always head straight to HMV to see if there are any great things I’ve missed. I usually take a portable DVD player with me so I don’t have to rely on the in house entertainment system. I save some shows for travelling. The latest series of The Wire is just waiting for a long haul trip

Like it. Name three songs on your iPod that would relax you during a flight?

There’s a song by Cecilia Bartoli called Sposa Son Disprezzata that I always listen to. I really like Smile by Lily Allen and there’s a song called Dolphins by Tim Buckley

Nice choice. Don't be alarmed by the next question but I need to ask it. Here goes. What’s your pre-flight beauty regime? Which beauty items can’t you fly without?

I don’t have one

Really? Never been tempted by a moisturiser?

Not really

Or an eye cream?

Um

Have you ever used a lip salve?

Yeah. Generally not my own though. I’ve always thought you’d get addicted to it and that’s a bad road to go down

Which celebrity, past or present, would you be excited to find sitting next to you on the plane? And don't say your wife...

I would say my wife. But to make it slightly more interesting I'll say someone funny and someone up for having a few drinks. Someone of the opposite sex just to make it more fun. Lily Allen would be a great laugh to sit next to on a plane. I get thrilled by the kind of celebrities that cool people wouldn’t be thrilled by

Which of these best describes you: beach bum, culture vulture, or thrill seeker?

Beach bum. Because I’m certainly not a culture vulture. I never get bored of a beach. I like all beach games. Put it this way, if the sun’s out and the waves are big I could stay on the beach every day of the year

Have you ever done a bungee jump?

No but I suppose I am a bit of a thrill seeker, I’m looking into costeering – you go round the coast of the UK hanging onto cliffs and then jump into the sea and swim to a boat. So beach bum slash thrill seeker probably

What are your packing rituals? Any tips?

I tend to lay everything out in piles. Electronics, swimming, clothes, underwear. I get the piles right

Do you count underwear? Admit it

Uh, yes I count out underwear. But I’m not one of those people that’s too worried if I forget something as you can usually buy whatever you need wherever you’re going. I usually pack a small bag and then buy one to bring back all the stuff I’ve bought

Is there something you always forget to pack?

There have been a couple of times I’ve forgotten to pack trousers. Seriously, I get somewhere and have everything I need, just apart from trousers. I’ve also got a terrible habit of leaving luggage going round and round the carousel. I come home and realise a bag is missing – I’ve done it twice recently. I’ve left a bag with all the children's clothes in it before I bet that went down quite well

What helps you to relax while travelling?

Generally being able to watch a film. I like to get on the flight, take my shoes off, choose a good film, drink a couple of glasses of red wine and then go to sleep

Do you wear the socks?

Are you serious? No, I've never worn the socks. Maybe I will next time though

Describe your earliest memory of flying in an aeroplane?

I was 7 and I was flying to Antigua to do schloer advert for apple juice. I was with my parents and we were invited into the cockpit as we flew over the island. I remember thinking it was properly cool

What would you suggest to travellers hoping to explore a new city?

Get a guidebook and if you are single the best way to explore a city is to have an affair with someone who lives in the city. No way, because all you'd see is their mad aunts and their bedroom No, truly, they take you to all the great places. I love being where the tourists don’t go. That’s my advice – find someone from the opposite sex. Think about it, if you met someone here you'd take them to little bars or great restaurants off the beaten track

Which brands in particular do you look out for when shopping at the airport?

I go straight to the bookshop and then I search for great DVD’s in HMV

When does your holiday begin - when you leave home, when you arrive at the airport or as you arrive at your destination?

Travelling alone is a joy so I love the whole thing from start to finish but travelling with a young family is pretty stressful and can be horrendous. I have to say buying a gadget at an airport is a welcome relief. I absolutely love headphones. I’ve got three pairs of these brilliant Bose ones as they keep bringing out new versions. They’re spectacular and cancel all the noise out – sometimes I just put them on and don’t listen to anything, just for some peace and quiet. I’m a big ipod fan and never travel without my iphone for music and my itouch for tv and movies. I am rarely separated from them

Is there a last-minute dash for the airport or do you leave plenty of time for the journey?

I’m normally there hours before I have to be there. I hate the idea of missing a plane or rushing and it all being last minute

So you could say you're a serious fan of airports?

Yes, you could definitely say that

So, Rupert PJ (as I’ll now call him) is a rather nice person to chat to and I think he likes travelling as much as me. Next time I’m passing Austin Reed I’ll give him a wave. Which might make people look at me slightly weirdly. Ahem. Anyway, who’s my dream person to sit next to on a flight? Well, it would probably be him now – just as long as he lets me watch The Wire too.

Rupert Penry-Jones, the new face of Austin Reed.