(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Kevin Spacey says he approached his new stage role with "terror".

The American actor is portraying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in a production of Shakespeare's Richard III which is directed by Sam Mendes in London's Old Vic.

The star, who is the artistic director of the famous British theatre, says there is a certain amount of pressure when it comes to acting in a famous work of Shakespeare and collaborating with one of Hollywood's most celebrated directors.

"With an enormous amount of trepidation," he revealed when asked how he had approached the role of Richard III. "With a certain amount of terror, because it's the most famous play by Shakespeare, probably, certainly one of the most famous roles. And because it is Sam and I coming together there's a certain level of expectation, so you know, you don't wanna screw it up. Whatever those pre-ideas are, you want them to just forget about it."

Sam Mendes chose the role of Richard III for Kevin because he felt he was "born" to take on the challenge. The British film-and-stage director has joked Kevin's "bad man" image was perfect for depicting the character's jealously and ambition in the play.

"Part of it was wanting to find a role that I felt was perfect for Kevin, and I'd always felt he was saving his blushes, born to play this part," he gushed in an interview with BBC Radio Four. "He's a bad man that Kevin Spacey. It needs a true stage performer to do this. There are very, very few people who actually are." (C) Cover Media