(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Matt LeBlanc needed a "couple cups of coffee" to play the energetic Joey Tribbiani in Friends.

The actor, who is currently starring as an exaggerated version of himself in BBC comedy Episodes, required caffeine to get pumped up to play the loveable womaniser in the hit US TV show.

"I used to need a couple of cups of coffee just to get the energy level that was required to play Joey," he told UK magazine Grazia. "This guy [in Episodes] is a lot more laid-back. So closer to me in that regard."

Episodes follows a British couple who move to Hollywood to remake their successful British comedy show and are forced to cast Matt as the lead role, with disastrous results.

Now in its second series, the actor admitted that playing an egotistical caricature of himself was pretty fun even if it did not portray him in the best light.

"If I was playing just myself I'd find it much more frightening," he explained, "before I said yes to the role I had to get my head around the idea that this was a scripted character and then it seemed fun."

Matt recently ruled out any chance of a Friends reunion claiming it would not be the same. The phenomenally successful sitcom ran for 15 years and is one of the best loved TV programmes of all time. (C) Cover Media