I n the Lord Of The Rings films, Ian McKellen’s Gandalf meme-ably declares that “a wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.” But that isn’t true. On the bright September afternoon that NME meets actor Daniel Weyman, who plays the iconic mage in megabucks TV prequel The Rings Of Power , he’s been waiting for 10 minutes.

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“Oh, it’s no trouble,” he says serenely, acknowledging our tardiness before gesturing to the green and pleasant surroundings. “I’ve been enjoying the gardens.” Postman’s Park , the central London oasis in which we’re convening, is Weyman’s go-to spot for quiet contemplation. “It’s really ethereal,” he continues. Tall office buildings on all sides shut out nearby traffic noise and water trickles soothingly from a moss-covered fountain. In the corner of the courtyard, there’s a memorial to “heroic self-sacrifice”.…