WARNING: Do not read this article if you haven't seen the end of Netflix's Hostage

One of the stars of Netflix's latest addictive thriller Hostage has revealed the challenges of walking a tightrope whilst featuring in the programme, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Mark Lewis Jones, who portrays General Livingston in the show, discussed how he approached the "tricky" role, particularly towards the end.

The role required his character to offer guidance to embattled prime minister Abigail Dalton (portrayed by Suranne Jones) following her husband's abduction and her resignation being demanded for his freedom, all whilst concealing some sinister secrets.

Hostage on Netflix concluded with Livingston and multiple discontented former soldiers exposed as the masterminds behind the kidnapping of Dalton's spouse and were additionally responsible for the blackmail scheme targeting French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy).

Speaking about how he succeeded in concealing his character's genuine intentions until the dramatic revelation, the 61 year old Welsh performer exclusively told Reach Screen Time: "It's always tricky because [...] the character always knows obviously, but you mustn't give it away.

"In a way, what you want to try and achieve is when it is revealed, some of the audience thinks, 'Do you know, what? That makes sense now.' But they don't know until that point."

The Outlander and The Crown performer continued: "So you want to try and get to that point. You have to play each scene as it comes along.

"I guess you've got to play the innocent and be really supportive, and with the prime minster and give proper information, really as a ploy to just to give information from a military standpoint. That's his role throughout until it's revealed. I guess what I was thinking was, 'I'll just play that.'"

"Just play that I'm a support to her and I have the military knowledge, capability and decision-making to help her achieve her aims."

Mark confessed he'd "thought a lot about" striking the balance when portraying the conflicted character.

"You have to be really careful but also you've got to allow the audience in to his internal thoughts a bit," he clarified.

The star added: "So he was having to give advice that was difficult to give and stuff. He always had this ulterior motive."

Mark was a late addition to Hostage, which was conceived by Oscar-nominated writer Matt Charman and lead star Suranne. The actor admitted he joined the project after filming had already begun.

"I was chatting with [creator] Matt [Charman] and I saw the last scene and I thought, 'Yeah, that's definitely worth doing'," he revealed.

Reflecting on what drew him to the project, Mark praised Doctor Foster actress Suranne and said: "She's brilliant. She can really carry a series."

He elaborated: "I chose to work with her and Matt Charman and everyone else. Lucian Msamati's an old friend. I was drawn to it.

"It was a character that was talked about a lot, seen a little bit throughout and then he's got this big denouement at the end which really made it, nailed it for me to play.

"It was a really lovely project to be involved in because it's had a big impact. Some of them pass us by."

Jones, whose remarkable career spans from HBO's Chernobyl, Game of Thrones and Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi to Baby Reindeer and Gangs of London, is currently juggling numerous other projects.

According to IMDb, he's set to star in the second series of Welsh drama Dal Y Mellt, Still Waters, Henry House and Uncle, with the latter two currently in production.

Hostage is streaming on Netflix now