(Cover) - EN Movies - Gary Oldman says the action scenes in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy are like a "high-stakes chess game".

The British actor is starring as MI6 intelligence officer George Smiley in the upcoming adaptation of the classic spy novel by John le Carr.

Gary says the film, also starring Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch, does not feature any high-octane car chases, focusing more on the intellectual aspects.

"They're in the mind; there are no real car chases, rather it's like a high-stakes chess game with everyone watching how the other person moves," he explained in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Mail.

Gary revealed the character of George Smiley initially attracted him to take on the script. The 53-year-old star, who is renowned for playing villainous roles, says the "quietness" of the character drew him in.

"I've played so many of these big extrovert characters, and it was the prospect of doing something that is so still, so quiet," he revealed.

Gary says that director Tomas Alfredson was creative with the camerawork. The actor claims the filmmaker took an almost voyeuristic approach to filming by shooting with long lenses.

"It was as if he was eavesdropping, like a peeping Tom, which is what you sort of want for a spy film," he explained.

Gary spent considerable time perfecting his character's distinctive look and mannerisms. The actor put on weight for the role, blaming his glutinous eating habits on "George".

"I also put on a bit of a tummy for the scene where he swims in the pond at Hampstead. God, it was cold!" he quipped. "I wanted to be suitably middle-aged, so I ate a lot of treacle sponge and custard on the set and built up a little bit of a middle-aged paunch. I called it eating for George." (C) Cover Media