Ralph Fiennes has been giving himself “tasks” to avoid depression

He said: “My mental health is such that I need to keep busy. If I don’t give myself tasks, whether it’s learning a language or doing exercise or something, I can sink into . . .

“The morning time is the worst. In that weird place between sleep and wakefulness, I feel a low thing coming into me. But then I get up and start the day and I do stuff and it’s sort of OK.

“I live on my own and I’m happy on my own. But incrementally, over weeks and weeks, it does become a bit bizarre, a bit Twilight Zone.”

The 58-year-old actor is thankful not to have contracted coronavirus but has some friends who have been afflicted.

He told The Times' Saturday Review: “I’ve not had Covid. I’m hearing from friends who’ve had it and it’s not really something you want to get. I know you can get it lightly, but having it seriously is not fun.”

Ralph has seen all his working projects for the next few months postponed due to the pandemic.

He said: “About three months ago I knew what I was doing, but then everything that was slated got moved around.

“Look, for so long I used to say, ‘I want a sabbatical.’ And now I’ve got one.’ ”

The veteran actor is sure to be disappointed with this week’s news that James Bond movie ‘No Time to Die’ – in which he returns as MI6 boss ‘M’ – has had its release date postponed for a third time, and he admitted he was hoping film bosses would “hold their nerve” and stick with the planned April date.

Speaking before the news of the new date was announced, he said: “I want to be optimistic and hope that they hold their nerve.

“As a punter I would love to go and sit and watch a big movie in the cinema. I feel a real hunger to be in a cinema, so I hope they hold their nerve.”