David Harewood has admitted that landing a role in Homeland saved his career.
The British actor played CIA anti-terror chief David Estes in the critically-acclaimed drama for its first two seasons - before being killed off in the final episode.
He explained to The Sun that he almost quit acting a few years ago, until he found "overnight success" after 27 years in the job.
"Two-and-a-half years ago I was at my lowest ebb," he admitted. "My best friend had just died, I wasn't working, I was completely skint and very close to giving up.
"But then I got the call and now things have changed 100%. It's completely turned round. Homeland picked me up out of the gutter and I'm so very grateful for it."
Tonight (Thursday April 18) Harewood stars in the Sky Arts Playhouse Presents play Hey Diddly Dee, a musical based on the life of Andy Warhol. Kylie Minogue, Peter Serafinowicz and Mathew Horne also feature.
"My character really fancies [Kylie]," Harewood said. "He's completely smitten, but he's very shy and useless and doesn't know how to approach her.
"Kylie was great to work with. She could have been a diva but she was really approachable and up for a laugh."
