Stephen Fry: ‘The Conservatives are what we call in poker

The actor on playing a Polish Holocaust survivor alongside Lena Dunham, what he likes about hip‑hop and why a boring PM would be a relief

Stephen Fry, 66, is an actor, broadcaster, writer, presenter and director. As a teenager, he was expelled from school, went to prison for credit card fraud and failed his A-levels before retaking them, resulting in a scholarship to Cambridge University, where he joined the Footlights sketch troupe. He has since starred in more than 60 TV shows, at least 50 films and written 17 books. His latest film, Treasure, with Lena Dunham, is out now.

In Treasure, you play Edek, a Polish Holocaust survivor, reluctantly turning to his homeland with his journalist daughter (played by Dunham). It’s a long way from playing Jeeves and General Melchett in Blackadder.
It is! Casting directors, for all kinds of obvious reasons, think of me if they need a pompous lawyer or headmaster [laughs]. But just occasionally, roles come along that ask for something else, And to have someone like Lena to work with – I fell in love with her straight away.