The actor on his fear of confrontation, his love of mixed martial arts, and what is getting in the way of his sex life

Born in Cambridgeshire, Guy Pearce, 57, grew up in Australia and was in Neighbours. He starred in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 1994, and in LA Confidential in 1997. He won an Emmy for the 2011 TV adaptation of Mildred Pierce. His other films include Memento, The Hurt Locker, The King’s Speech, Iron Man 3, The Convert and The Brutalist, which won three Golden Globes and is in UK cinemas from 24 January. He lives in the Netherlands with actor Carice van Houten and their son.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My fear of confrontation.