Ralph Fiennes has never been approached to star in a long-form TV show

He told The Times newspaper: "I can't think of a time I've been approached [to appear in a long-form TV show]."

Ralph also confessed to feeling frustrated by the TV industry.

The acclaimed actor explained: "Things are just extended when they don't have to be. So a show can have great performances, writing, camera, but it's sort of dead, bubbling along, like somebody's keeping it on simmer for ever for, I sometimes wonder, non-creative elements that might make viewing figures go up.

"I watched a TV series recently that was well-received and I just thought, 'Why is it so long?' It seemed so odd. My natural taste is for film."

Ralph explained that he still loves the experience of "being immersed" in a film for a couple of hours.

The award-winning actor cited 'High Noon', the 1952 Western movie, as the "perfect film", observing that it's "beautifully acted and composed".

He shared: "I just love the classic format of the movie. That is 90 minutes, 120 minutes.

"People ask what my favourite film is and if there's one that sums up a succinctness, accessibility and carries a sort of fable, it is 'High Noon'. It's just the perfect film. Everyone relates to it. It's a myth. It's beautifully acted and composed.

"It's a personal thing, isn't it? But I just love that experience of being immersed for a couple of hours - where there's a total arc."