Michael Sheen has said being an actor could work against him on the new series of Celebrity Traitors.
The 57-year-old is among the stars taking part in the second series of the BBC reality game show, which returns to screens on October 1.
Set in a Scottish castle and hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the show sees celebrities compete to unmask hidden traitors among them, who "murder" fellow contestants each night, with the last remaining players in line to win up to £100,000 for charity.
Catch up on all the latest Celebrity Traitors news here - Latest Celebrity Traitors updates including start date, lineup, new twists and more
Mr Sheen said: "Well, I do think it's a disadvantage to be an actor because people immediately go, 'Oh well, he pretends for a living.'
"I don't think that is the case, because the whole point of acting is that you have to trick yourself into believing that what you're doing is true.
"If you are consciously aware that you're pretending or you're saying things that aren't true, then it's bad acting.
"It's just bad.
"Just for me being an actor, I think that's a disadvantage because people are already suspicious of that.
"Beyond being an actor, just my persona, I don't really know what people think about me.
"So, I don't know if it'll help or not."
The Welsh star said he signed up for the show because he is a "big fan" and was drawn to the setting, having previously filmed nearby.
Mr Sheen said: "I knew the area a bit, and it is stunningly beautiful.
"It's a lovely place to be and the game is just fascinating."
He also reflected on the show's cultural impact.
He said: "I think for a show to be so popular and to grab the cultural imagination so much, it has to have the ability to go beyond what its genre is.
"It somehow speaks to something a bit deeper, maybe.
"People get so absorbed in it."
Mr Sheen is best known for roles in Frost/Nixon, The Deal, and the Twilight saga.
He recently played Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in A Very Royal Scandal.
He will be joined on the show by fellow actor Richard E Grant, who also believes his profession could make him more of a target.
Mr Grant said: "I think it'll make people more suspicious because they assume that you're a natural-born liar.
"'Oh, you're an actor, so I can't believe anything that you say.'
"I've played so many villains that I assume people will think that I'm a bad egg."
The Withnail and I star said he would relish being chosen as one of the traitors.
He said: "You have no control in real life over anything.
"Any chance for that would be welcome.
"And a little bit of mischief is always welcome."
Other celebrities taking part in the series include TV presenter Maya Jama, comedian Miranda Hart, and The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey.
The first series of Celebrity Traitors aired last autumn and proved a ratings hit, with the BBC reporting a peak audience of 15.4 million viewers for the finale.
The spin-off series attracted an average audience of 14.9 million viewers, the biggest TV audience of 2025.
The Celebrity Traitors returns on October 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Will you be watching Celebrity Traitors? Let us know in the comments.
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