After all, as Oldman points out, le Carre was a spy before he took up writing.

BBC: Gary Oldman's Smiley: 'A little sexier, a little crueller'

The other figure who has done much to shape the public understanding of MI6 is John le Carre.

BBC: Spies like them

Perhaps authors think that the field is crowded, with tomes by Tom Clancy and the more elegant products of John le Carre.

CNN: Hot Buttons

And while they talked Oldman clocked le Carre's mannerisms and speech patterns.

BBC: Gary Oldman's Smiley: 'A little sexier, a little crueller'

Oldman sat and watched Le Carre as they chatted about George Smiley.

BBC: Gary Oldman's Smiley: 'A little sexier, a little crueller'

Which probably has something to do with him landing the part of George Smiley in the soon-to-be-released film adaptation of John le Carre's novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

BBC: Gary Oldman's Smiley: 'A little sexier, a little crueller'

Tomas Alfredson, who made his name with the hauntingly good vampire film Let The Right One In (2008), sat Oldman down and opened a page in le Carre's book.

BBC: Gary Oldman's Smiley: 'A little sexier, a little crueller'

On Sunday, 34-year-old Weisz won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as aid worker Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener, developed from a John Le Carre novel.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Weisz Oscar 'is good for Africa'