Actor's reprimand wins applause

The actor said he was astonished at the response

An actor who broke off his West End performance to scold a woman over her ringing mobile phone has said he has been astonished by the response.

Richard Griffiths said he tried three times to start his speech in the last five minutes of Heroes, at Wyndham's Theatre, but kept getting interrupted.

He told BBC News people talking on mobiles in public places was "tacky" and showed disrespect for performers.

"I have had such a lot of feedback from people - it really irritates them."

It was during the closing minutes of a Saturday matinee performance in London of Heroes - a play about war veterans planning their escape from a nursing home - that a phone kept bleeping.

Griffiths, 58, well known for his performances on stage and in films such as the Harry Potter series, said he first tried a "long cool look" in the woman's direction.

I have never heard it when the BBC televises snooker tournaments for example Richard Griffiths

But when he went to start his speech for the third time and the phone went off - he addressed her directly from the stage and asked her to switch it off or leave.

"I really had to hang on to my temper," he told BBC News.

"The audience just erupted and thought it was wonderful, I was astonished, quite taken aback."

HAVE YOUR SAY The problem is bad manners not mobile phones Douglas, Milton Keynes Send us your comments

It was not the first time Griffiths's temper had snapped over a ringing mobile. Last year he ordered a man out of the National Theatre when his phone went off six times during a production of The History Boys.

"I have never heard it when the BBC televises snooker tournaments for example," Mr Griffiths said.

"That audience has a greater respect for what's going on."