LeBlanc: I was happy to chill after Joey tanked

Matt LeBlanc was happy to live a "normal life" after 'Joey' flopped.

The 'Friends' actor starred in a short-lived spin-off of the smash hit sitcom between 2004 and 2006 - which centred on his loveable character Joey Tribbiani's move to Hollywood - and he admits he needed a break after the show was axed as he had worked non-stop for 12 years on 'Friends' and 'Joey'.

Matt said: "I didn't do anything for five years. I didn't want to work. I just let the dust settle and went back to my life and found out what it was like to go to the grocery store and drop off my dry cleaning again."

Matt was lured back to the small screen to play an exaggerated version of himself in 'Episodes', which is now in its third season.

He explained: "The writers called and told me the idea and I was flattered and genuinely excited. I thought it would be weird to play myself but it's not really me, it's a scripted character with references to my career and the public's perception of celebrity."

The 46-year-old star thinks the show challenges the public's belief that celebrities live glamorous lives without any worries.

He told the Metro newspaper: "The reality is celebrities are just as damaged as anyone else can be. It's not all glamour. That's what the lights and cameras are for. Behind the scenes, there's hard work, anxiety and disappointment."

'Episodes' season three begins tonight at 10pm on BBC Two.