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This year Al Weaver has appeared in Five Daughters and Sherlock on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One. In The Nativity Al plays Thomas, a shepherd whose faith in God is waning. The heavy taxes implemented by the Romans, an ailing wife and newborn baby have left him questioning whether there is a God. Here Al talks about what the role meant to him and his experiences on location.

You've appeared in Five Daughters, Sherlock and The Nativity this year. What has been the highlight for you?

The Nativity to be honest – although Five Daughters was also an incredible experience. The Nativity offered me a great role, I got to film in Morocco, it was a fantastic script and cast. It was great to be part of.

What was it that attracted you to the role?

When I read the script I thought it was such a great moral story – especially for the times were living in – and I really enjoyed it. I felt Thomas was a role I could really get my teeth into.

Viewers will be familiar with the shepherds from the Nativity story. However, your character will be new to viewers, because Tony Jordan [the writer and executive producer] has fleshed out the role. Can you explain his role in the adaptation?

Thomas has a huge dilemma between his faith and his morals. The Romans have imposed really heavy taxes and because he can't pay them they've taken his flock instead. He has a new baby and a sick wife and he is caught in this situation and doesn't really know how to deal with it. Everyone keeps telling him to believe in God and that the Messiah will come.

However, he sort of loses touch as the story goes on and he turns desperate. Before he does anything bad he catches sight of himself. And then is told about the arrival of baby Jesus.

The final scene where the shepherds and the three Magi arrive at the stable is incredibly moving – Thomas is very overwhelmed. Was it quite emotional to film?

Yes it was. It was nice because all the cast were there. It's funny because you see the nativity scene depicted so often – especially at Christmas – with the shepherds; but you don't really know anything about them and to put a character like Thomas in there makes it so real.

It's so hard to grasp the enormity of the story and I just wanted Thomas to be completely overwhelmed – as Tony had written in the script.

Was there a prop or item of clothing which helped you get into character?

My sandals – I've still got them – I love them. It was so hot when I came back to London I wore them loads. As soon as I put my costume on it helped me get into character.

And the terrain helped too. It just felt so real with the heat and the stunning backdrops; you felt part of the landscape. It made such a difference filming there instead of just being in a studio.

What – for you – has Tony Jordan brought to this adaptation?

He has bought realness – a real human element to the story. Coky too – her direction and her vision bringing it to screen has complemented Tony's script. Together it makes the story very grounded and believable. Whether you think the story is true or not doesn't matter, it's still a human story about love and faith.

You work with children and animals in this drama. What was that like?

There were two babies and it was funny because the mums were quite competitive. When one baby started crying the other mum looked quite proud that hers wasn't. The babies were great though actually.

The lambs were absolutely adorable. Ive never held a lamb before but it was like holding a baby.

Do you have a favourite moment from filming?

The scene I really enjoyed was the confession scene with Ruth. And then being filmed as I walked across the desert, carrying a lamb with a staff – it was such an epic cool shot to do.

What do you hope viewers will get out of The Nativity?

I hope they enjoy it – whether or not they believe it – and that it gets people into the spirit of Christmas.