Matthew Goode 'blown away' by Cemetery Junction offer

Matthew Goode and his partner Sophie Dymoke

Actor Matthew Goode has said he was "blown away" to get offered a part in Ricky Gervais's new film Cemetery Junction.

The comedy-drama is co-directed and written by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and is a coming-of-age tale of three friends working in the insurance industry in the 70s.

"Him and Stephen called me up and asked me if I wanted to do it," says Goode. "It's to play the second in charge, underneath Ralph Fiennes who heads the company.

"We're both quite devious in getting people to sign up. It was really fun."

Goode said working with Gervais and Merchant, who famously teamed up on The Office and Extras, meant a lot of laughter on set.

"Those two are just hilarious characters... you'd think with having two directors there might be a bit of conflict, but it's seamless.

"You know when you're doing well because you can hear Ricky guffawing in the background."

Gervais himself appears in the movie - as the father of one of the lead characters, and the movie is also set in Reading, where the comedian was brought up.

Goode is certain the "funny and moving" film will live up to the lofty expectations of Gervais and Merchant fans when it's released in April.

"I think people will be surprised at just how competent and different it is," he said.

Hobbit hopes

The 31-year-old, currently in cinemas alongside Colin Firth in A Single Man, has also just brought out a rom-com called Leap Year.

Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais were great directors, says Goode

However, rumours that he doesn't like the film are inaccurate said the actor: "You know how things get sometimes, they get a little twisted."

He also revealed a rather different potential role - as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit (the 'prequel' to The Lord of the Rings), due for release in 2012.

Goode said it was nice to be asked to try out for such a high profile film, but that he wasn't counting his chickens just yet.

"Everyone under the sun came in for that film as far as British actors are concerned. I'm six foot two, so I'm not holding my breath on that one!"

The Devon-born actor, who also appeared in last year's adaptation of the Watchmen comics, said he didn't have any plans to relocate to LA like some British actors.

Goode, who has a 10-month old daughter with his partner, is happy with life in the UK and admits he loves the English countryside.

He said he often escapes London for weekends away at the house of fellow actor Laurence Fox (Billie Piper's husband).

Goode and Fox (from ITV's detective series Lewis) are old friends and used to live together after they finished drama school.

"They have a little place in the countryside, so we often go down there for a nice long weekend and let the babies play together."

"We have pub lunches and stuff, it's really very civilised," he laughs.

Leap Year is out in UK cinemas now. Cemetery Junction is due for release on 14 April.